Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
David and Goliath summary
Malcolm Gladwell
Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants
20 mins
Brief summary
David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell is an inspiring book that challenges us to rethink our views on disadvantages. Exploring the stories of underdogs who prevailed, it teaches us how to turn obstacles into advantages.
Table of Contents
David and Goliath
Summary of 9 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 9
Comparing ourselves to our high-flying peers damages our confidence and stops us from reaching our full potential.
As we grow up we adjust to bigger and bigger schools, from primary to secondary and onwards. At each stage, we encounter more fellow pupils, many of whom have abilities we don’t have.
When we see peers whose skills surpass our own, we want to compete directly against them and become part of the elite; we want to be as good as the best. But this is misguided. If we compete against the brightest people, we feel relative deprivation. Comparing ourselves to brighter peers rather than to everyone causes us to lose confidence in our own abilities.
The lack of confidence brought about by trying to join the elite often leads to our failure in achieving all we want. For example, talented students who step up to elite universities and compete with the very best are more likely to drop out than those who choose a less prestigious university.
So if competing against the elite will damage our confidence, what should we do instead?
We should stop trying to compare ourselves with the best and instead aim to carve a niche for ourselves. In other words, we shouldn’t let the urge for peer recognition distract us from our unique passions. History is full of people who, rather than competing against the best, successfully followed their own paths.
For example, in the nineteenth century the Paris Salon was the most exclusive art exhibition in Europe. Artworks exhibited there had a huge audience and their value rocketed. Early Impressionist painters tried to have their work exhibited at the Salon, but to no avail: their avant-garde style was not accepted. Instead, they gave up trying to impress the elite and exhibited their pieces themselves – to great acclaim.
If they had let the Salon dictate what they should paint, they would not have ended up changing the course of art history.
Want more?
Read or listen to the key ideas
from 7,500+ titles
Read or listen to the key ideas
from 7,500+ titles
Key ideas in David and Goliath
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is David and Goliath about?
David and Goliath (2013) shares myriad stories of underdogs who won out against all the odds. Throwing out our traditional ideas of what it takes to be a success, it offers unconventional views on subjects such as the downsides to privilege, the benefits of learning difficulties, and how authorities should treat their citizens. These lessons are infused with academic studies, historical examples and detailed interviews with the underdogs themselves.
David and Goliath Review
David and Goliath (2013) by Malcolm Gladwell explores the concept of disadvantaged individuals overcoming challenges and achieving extraordinary success. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- Offers a fresh perspective on underdogs and challenges conventional notions of power and advantage.
- Provides fascinating case studies that illustrate how adversity can lead to unexpected triumphs.
- Encourages readers to rethink their assumptions about success and recognize the potential in adversity.
Who should read David and Goliath?
- Anyone looking for motivation or inspiration in their lives
- Anyone who has always wanted to know the behind-the-scenes or personal stories of well-known events in history
- Anyone interested in psychology, or crime and punishment
Categories with David and Goliath
Book summaries like David and Goliath
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
32 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
David and Goliath FAQs
What is the main message of David and Goliath?
The main message of David and Goliath is that underdogs can overcome adversity and achieve great success.
How long does it take to read David and Goliath?
The reading time for David and Goliath varies based on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is David and Goliath a good book? Is it worth reading?
David and Goliath is a fascinating book that challenges our perceptions of strength and weakness. It is definitely worth reading for its thought-provoking insights.
Who is the author of David and Goliath?
David and Goliath is written by Malcolm Gladwell.
What to read after David and Goliath?
If you're wondering what to read next after David and Goliath, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Blink by Malcolm Gladwell
- The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
- How Big Things Get Done by Bent Flyvbjerg and Dan Gardner
- Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
- Lawyers, Liars and the Art of Storytelling by Jonathan Shapiro
- Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell
- Big Potential by Shawn Achor
- The Goal by Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox
- Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell
- Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath