David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants Cover
Podcast Mentions

David and Goliath Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

Malcolm Gladwell

Explore the power of the underdog in Malcolm Gladwell's dazzling examination of success, motivation, and the role of adversity in shaping our lives. Three thousand years ago on a battlefield in ancient Palestine, a shepherd boy felled a mighty warrior with nothing more than a stone and a sling, and...

Podcasts 14
Quotes 19
Freakonomics Radio

It was mentioned as the most recent of Malcolm Gladwell's five bestselling books, highlighting his continued success as a prominent author.

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The most recent is David and Goliath.

— Episode: Tell Me Something I Don’t Know (Rebroadc...

Episode: Tell Me Something I Don’t Know (Rebroadcast)

It was mentioned as the most recent of Malcolm Gladwell's five bestselling books, highlighting his continued success as a prominent author.

"

The most recent is David and Goliath.

Episode: 183. “Tell Me Something I Don’t Know”

It was mentioned as the most recent of five best-selling books by Malcolm Gladwell, highlighting its success and position in his writing career.

"

The most recent is David and Goliath.

Modern Wisdom

The conversation referenced a chapter about dyslexia in Gladwell's book, noting it as a favorite example of how perceived disadvantages can become strengths.

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One of my favorite things that's ever been written about dyslexia is a chapter in Malcolm Gladwell's book, David and Goliath.

— Episode: #1027 - Mel Robbins - The Secret to Over...

Episode: #1027 - Mel Robbins - The Secret to Overcoming Imp...

The conversation referenced a chapter about dyslexia in Gladwell's book, noting it as a favorite example of how perceived disadvantages can become strengths.

"

One of my favorite things that's ever been written about dyslexia is a chapter in Malcolm Gladwell's book, David and Goliath.

Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard

Gladwell said his book David and Goliath serves as an antidote to Outliers, showing that apparent disadvantages can be strengths.

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My book, David and Goliath is a kind of antidote to Outliers.

— Episode: Malcolm Gladwell Returns Again

Episode: Malcolm Gladwell Returns Again

Gladwell said his book David and Goliath serves as an antidote to Outliers, showing that apparent disadvantages can be strengths.

"

My book, David and Goliath is a kind of antidote to Outliers.

Revisionist History

The book was discussed across several episodes, with Douglas Murray criticizing its factual accuracy, especially the chapter on Northern Ireland, while Tim Harford highlighted its reinterpretation of the David‑Goliath story, suggesting Goliath’s size may have been a disadvantage. Adam Grant recalled a prior conversation about the author's focus on underdogs and the role of luck and opportunity. Overall, the podcast presented a mixed view, noting both intriguing insights and notable flaws.

Critiqued

Episode: Malcolm Goes to Debate School

Malcolm Gladwell's book, "David and Goliath", was criticized for inaccuracies in the chapter on Northern Ireland.

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I can't sit here and listen to Malcolm Gladwell talking about fact checking and the importance of it. Not to get too mean, Malcolm. I read your book, David and Goliath.

The chapter on Northern Ireland is more filled with inaccuracies than any other chapter in a nonfiction book I have read. It is.

Having written a not very well selling but widely acclaimed book on Northern Ireland myself, my book on Northern Ireland didn't sell anywhere near as much as yours did, Malcolm. But mine was filled with facts.

Episode: Tim Harford Cools Us Down This Summer

The book discusses the David and Goliath story, suggesting that Goliath was not as formidable as he seemed, possibly suffering from a medical condition that made him appear terrifying but limited his capabilities.

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Malcolm Gladwell's book, David and Goliath, has some interesting things to say about this fight.

Goliath wasn't quite as fearsome as he seemed. He was at least 6ft9, but humans aren't built to be that big.

Episode: Tim Harford Cools Us Down This Summer

The book mentions Goliath's possible medical condition as a reason for his seemingly intimidating stature.

"

Malcolm Gladwell's book, David and Goliath, has some interesting things to say about this fight.

Goliath wasn't quite as fearsome as he seemed. He was at least 6ft9, but humans aren't built to be that big. One plausible explanation is that Goliath was suffering from a medical condition which causes the production of too much growth hormone.

Episode: Malcolm Gladwell debates Adam Grant

Adam Grant recalled a past discussion about Malcolm Gladwell's 'David and Goliath', suggesting a focus on the underdog perspective, particularly in relation to success, luck, and opportunity.

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When you came out with 'David and Goliath', I remember talking and I was thinking that you wrote this book about underdogs because you love to root for the underdog. And you said no.

Breaking Points with Krystal and Saagar

It was mentioned that Matt Stoller had written about Bob Iger and Disney in his book Goliath, highlighting Disney's transformation into a hedge fund-like entity during Iger's tenure.

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Matt Stoller has made this on his sub stack Goliath which is uh or it's called big I'm sorry the book is Goliath about bob iger a lot which is that he basically under iger he was he was the ceo of dis...

— Episode: Counter Points #15: Rail Strike, Kanye &...

Episode: Counter Points #15: Rail Strike, Kanye & Alex Jone...

It was mentioned that Matt Stoller had written about Bob Iger and Disney in his book Goliath, highlighting Disney's transformation into a hedge fund-like entity during Iger's tenure.

"

Matt Stoller has made this on his sub stack Goliath which is uh or it's called big I'm sorry the book is Goliath about bob iger a lot which is that he basically under iger he was he was the ceo of disney for a long time transformed disney into like a a hedge fund with an entertainment or with theme parks um because what they did was just buy up all of this other stuff and there was so much consolidation under iger

Timcast IRL

Max Blumenthal mentioned his book, 'Goliath,' which focused on the 2014 war in Gaza and lasted for 51 days.

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And I've done two books on Israel, Palestine, Goliath and the 51 Day War where I covered the war in Gaza in 2014, which lasted for 51 days.

— Episode: Timcast IRL #879 Hamas BEHEADED BABIES A...

Episode: Timcast IRL #879 Hamas BEHEADED BABIES According T...

Max Blumenthal mentioned his book, 'Goliath,' which focused on the 2014 war in Gaza and lasted for 51 days.

"

And I've done two books on Israel, Palestine, Goliath and the 51 Day War where I covered the war in Gaza in 2014, which lasted for 51 days.

The Bobby Bones Show

The book was mentioned in relation to a potential project with Malcolm Gladwell; the speaker found the story of David and Goliath interesting in the context of the book.

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he wrote outliers and Blink and David and Goliath and he's...

— Episode: Weds Post Show (10-11-23)

Episode: Weds Post Show (10-11-23)

The book was mentioned in relation to a potential project with Malcolm Gladwell; the speaker found the story of David and Goliath interesting in the context of the book.

"

he wrote outliers and Blink and David and Goliath and he's...

David and Goliath is super interesting too when literally he talks about David and Goliath and how really David was the favorite not Goliath.

No Stupid Questions

The book was referenced as an example of Malcolm Gladwell's interesting ideas, specifically mentioning the concept that disadvantages, like dyslexia, can sometimes provide advantages such as enhanced creative problem-solving.

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In one book, David and Goliath, he talks about how dyslexia can actually make people more successful because in the absence of one ability, like reading, people can develop other abilities like creati...

— Episode: 222. What Makes an Idea Interesting?

Episode: 222. What Makes an Idea Interesting?

The book was referenced as an example of Malcolm Gladwell's interesting ideas, specifically mentioning the concept that disadvantages, like dyslexia, can sometimes provide advantages such as enhanced creative problem-solving.

"

In one book, David and Goliath, he talks about how dyslexia can actually make people more successful because in the absence of one ability, like reading, people can develop other abilities like creative problem-solving, acting, listening, rule-bending, etc.

The Jordan Harbinger Show

It was briefly mentioned as a potential chapter topic in the past, and the conversation hinted at the idea of turning disadvantages into advantages, which is a concept that the book discussed.

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fact this should have been a chapter of my last book david and galaeth because this is exactly a disadvantage that turns into an advantage

— Episode: 256: Malcolm Gladwell | What We Should K...

Episode: 256: Malcolm Gladwell | What We Should Know about...

It was briefly mentioned as a potential chapter topic in the past, and the conversation hinted at the idea of turning disadvantages into advantages, which is a concept that the book discussed.

"

fact this should have been a chapter of my last book david and galaeth because this is exactly a disadvantage that turns into an advantage

The Daily Stoic

This book was favorably mentioned by the speaker, who had read it before.

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I remember I first read The Tipping Point, that I read Blink, then Outliers, most recently his book, then David and Goliath, which is also very good.

— Episode: Malcolm Gladwell on Running, Writing, an...

Episode: Malcolm Gladwell on Running, Writing, and Storytel...

This book was favorably mentioned by the speaker, who had read it before.

"

I remember I first read The Tipping Point, that I read Blink, then Outliers, most recently his book, then David and Goliath, which is also very good.

Note: The book recommendations on this page are discovered automatically from podcast transcripts, and may be incorrect or incomplete.