BLINK: The Power of Thinking without Thinking

The Power of Thinking without Thinking
By Malcolm Gladwell
Little, Brown & Company, 2005

Human beings make sense of a situation in two different ways. The first is the conscious approach. They think about what they have learned, and eventually come up with an answer. This strategy is logical and deliberate. The second strategy does not weigh all the evidence. It considers only what can be gathered at a glance. Recall the old proverb,"First impression is the best impression."

This book by Malcolm Gladwell, one of the most influential writers of our times is all about when each approach works best. It is about what we can do to ensure that the first impression does not lead to a hasty or wrong conclusion. It is about the kind of expertise and skills we need to develop to ensure that we become good at split second decision making. Gladwell’s books are always unique and insightful. This book is no exception.

We tend to assume that the quality of a decision is directly related to the time and effort that goes into making it. But in many situations, decisions made very quickly can be every bit as good as decisions made cautiously and deliberately. The part of our brain that leaps to conclusions at a glance is called the adaptive unconscious. It acts as a giant computer that quickly and quietly processes a lot of the data we need in order to keep functioning as human beings. Come to think of it, this ability has played a significant role in the shaping of human civilization. Human beings have survived as a species for so long because they have developed the capability to make very quick judgments based on very little information.

"Thin-slicing" refers to the ability of our unconscious to find patterns in situations and behavior based on very narrow slices of experience. Thin-slicing can be a very useful competence for managers. At the same time, the unconscious though a powerful force,can be fallible. It can be thrown off, distracted, and disabled. So, when should we trust our instincts, and when should we be wary of them? This book is about how snap judgments and first impressions can be educated and controlled.