Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking | Study Guide

Traditional wisdom suggests that the more important the decision, the more time that should be devoted to pondering it. Malcolm Gladwell challenges this notion, arguing that the brain is capable of making surprisingly good decisions in an instant. He goes even further, suggesting that additional information sometimes impedes thinking.

Gladwell explores split-second thinking through anecdotal evidence and research studies. He contends that the brain is hard-wired to find patterns in behaviors and experiences and, although most people are unaware, such "thin-slicing" yields surprisingly accurate decisions. However, there are potential pitfalls to rapid cognition, and Gladwell discusses ways to ensure that snap judgments are as sound as possible.