As the title implies, Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell, was fascinating, but I counted three grammatical errors and, to be honest, that is all that stands out in my mind.
Gladwell is an extremely talented writer and statistician, so I was thoroughly disappointed by these mistakes. However, I will forgive him long enough to describe something about the book I found interesting...
One of the initial case studies of the book is about a guy who instinctively knows whether or not a marriage will work out. He has studied facial expressions and reactions for so long that, within two minutes, he can predict with 90% accuracy how a marriage will turn out. That's incredible! One thing I wondered, though, was whether or not he told his subjects the results of his analysis. How would you feel if some guy watched you and your spouse interact for ten minutes and then told you that within the next five years you would be divorced? Yikes. I'd be pissed. But more importantly, I'd start lining up a divorce lawyer... That, however, would be a self-fulfilling prophecy, so I suppose he can't tell his subjects the results or the accuracy would be compromised.
I've read this post about six times to make sure I don't have a grammatical error, so back to the original point: grammar is important, people! Get it together.
Currently Reading:
Gut Feelings: The Intelligence of the Unconscious, by Gerd Gigerenzer
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Don't blame just Gladwell, blame the lousy editors who didn't spot those errors. What edition did you get?
ReplyDeleteInformation is important. If I can know anything with 90% accuracy then I want to know it. Good or bad there is an option to affect change. In the case of the married couple they can seek counsel or end the marriage before children complicate the matter.
ReplyDeleteKnowledge is a good thing.
You see, I am not overly concerned with grammar because I know with 100% certainty that you will straighten it out for me.
Knowledge is a good thing.
Well, as I said in my post, I'd be pissed, but I'd be getting a lawyer (a divorce lawyer, for clarification, I should have been more specific), so all is well.
ReplyDeleteHowever, put yourself in the married couple's position for a moment. They won't be thinking rationally about the whole thing, they'll be thinking, "Who the hell is this guy to be judging my marriage?"
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ReplyDeleteIntelligent folk take each comment for its value and should be able to think rationally –given enough time. Upon consideration you might disregard what a person has said; however, in this case the person has a 90% success rate in calling a marriage – I believe I’d give that some consideration.
ReplyDeleteIt’s just information. We can use it for our betterment, we can disregard it or we can rely on it. I’d like to think that using it to our betterment is the way to go. Of course a good lawyer is not a bad thing.