Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

by Malcolm Gladwell

October 21, 2020 — Unknown

Los Angeles, CA

A gift from Dani Hazime

It’s interesting to continue reading about how we think, especially after finishing a book about free will. Like Malcolm Gladwell’s other books, Blink is a compilation of stories that present examples and lessons, this time it covered how we perceive ideas, things, and people. I’ve done the Implicit Association Test before and found it interesting how Gladwell integrated it into the book when discussing the Warren Harding error: we tend to use our bias, and stereotypical thought to make judgments before even listening to, studying, or thinking well about a person, object, or idea. That’s why if you look like something, you will be perceived that way; unfortunately, this can also lead to deadly errors. Especially since not everyone is what they seem to be or looks like what they really are. We should resist making snap judgments by balancing deliberate and instinctive thinking while emphasizing frugality when making a decision.

I found the Cola vs. Pepsi case interesting from a marketing standpoint, that the packaging matters so much it can influence our perception and taste. The product depends on presentation since it’s incorporated into the entire experience that involves all our senses that determines our likeliness of a product; as we don’t consume anything blindly. Months ago, someone pitched to me the idea of selling traditional dates emphasizing that the unique packaging is what will make it stand out and sell. I shut down the idea at the time, but I think I might pick up the phone and revisit this idea now. Might.

Then comes the reading mind chapter which is fascinating, it introduces the facial action coding system to discuss the matters of reading people in different situations. The face is a mind of its own, while we can control our expressions, there will always be some presentation (even if it’s micro) of our emotions. However, it takes time to read a mind, when we don’t have time and are under extreme stress our senses are narrowed. However, with training and expertise, unnecessary casualties can be avoided.