Pinker does a great job of putting Gladwell on a pedestal in the first half (makes you want to read the book) of the review only to totally destroy him in the second half (now I wouldn't read the book even if it was a gift).

I think it’s fine to read, in about the same way that pulp sci-fi novels or “chick lit” are fine to read, or sit-coms are fine to watch: Gladwell is a good storyteller, and has loads of amusing anecdotes. As long as you don’t take things too seriously, or start to confuse his banal generalities for insightful modes of understanding, it’s a breezy, not too mentally taxing, way to spend an afternoon.

Indeed. But if you have limited time to read, better pick up a Pinker book...

Exactly my feeling.

I like Tkacik’s piece better than Pinker’s.

These two Blink reviews from 2005 are worth mentioning too:

- http://www.tnr.com/article/blinkered

- http://www.nybooks.com/articles/17954

I highly recommend Malcolm Gladwell despite the negative second half of the review. I've read his book "The Tipping Point" and I felt that it contained great tips for startups and small businesses.

Currently I am working on "Blink".

Even if Pinker is wrong, it is at least a breath of fresh air to see Gladwell pop psychology challenged for once.

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"Have you ever wondered why there are so many kinds of mustard but only one kind of ketchup?" It's just not TRUE.

I think we do have many kinds of ketchup, we just tend to call the fancier kinds BBQ sauce.