Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell

Entrepreneur Spencer Schar is an avid reader in his spare time, counting Malcolm Gladwell among his favorite writers. This article will look at Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, Malcolm Gladwell’s bestselling book, which explores the concept of using intuitive judgement to make snap decisions that ultimately lead to positive outcomes.

In the book, Gladwell describes a process called “thin-slicing,” which essentially involves using limited information from a narrow period of experience to arrive at a conclusion. Thin-slicing is a term used in the fields of psychology and philosophy to describe the process of making quick inferences about the characteristics, details, or state of an individual or situation by weighing up only minimal amounts of information. Research suggests that snap judgements based on thin-slicing can be just as precise or even as accurate as judgements formed with the benefit of much more information.

The part of the brain responsible for making snap decisions is known as the “adaptive unconscious.” Research suggests that humans can process complex data in as little as two seconds and potentially much faster than that, with some scientists suggesting that the human brain can complete this process in as little as 25 milliseconds. Certain key factors are necessary to enable people to make these judgements correctly. Improving focus on these factors paves the way for enhanced decision making, Gladwell’s book suggests.

Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking argues that intuitive judgement is developed through training, knowledge, and experience, explaining that prejudice operates at an unconscious, intuitive level, even in individuals whose conscious attitudes are unbiased. One example cited by Gladwell is the halo effect, where a person with one salient, positive quality is deemed superior in other unrelated aspects.

In his book, Malcolm Gladwell references numerous examples of thin-slicing, illustrating the human brain’s capacity to provide answers to complex yes or no questions quickly. Nevertheless, Gladwell theorizes that this process starts to break down when questions are presented unbounded.

In Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, Malcolm Gladwell suggests that spontaneous decision making can be just as effective, if not more so, than carefully considered choices. To reinforce this notion, the author draws on a wide range of examples from a variety of different fields, from science and medicine to sales and advertising to sports and military war games. Malcolm Gladwell also references individual experiences of thin-slicing from regular people, discussing humankind’s instinctive ability to mind-read, gauging an individual’s thoughts and emotions simply by looking at his or her face.

Exploring the Key Differences Between Canoeing and Kayaking

 

Entrepreneur Spencer Schar enjoys kayaking in his spare time, traversing the lakes where he lives, fishing for bass, and immersing himself in the spectacular scenery. This article will compare canoeing and kayaking, exploring the key similarities and differences between them.

Similar in appearance to the untrained eye, canoes and kayaks are both types of boats that are powered by paddling. For the uninitiated, it can be easy to get the two types of vessel mixed up.

A factor that differentiates kayaking and canoeing lies in the way that the paddle is used. While in canoeing the participant uses a single-bladed paddle, kayakers generally use a double-bladed version, culminating in very different paddling techniques between the two sports.

In canoeing, single-bladed paddles are used for long and stable propulsion, minimizing short, sharp movements, making this mode of transport appropriate for families seeking to explore tranquil lakes in comfort. When paddling in a canoe, participants use alternate strokes, placing one hand on the grip and the other on the paddle shaft as they push the blade through the water to propel the vessel forward.

In kayaking, on the other hand, participants use double-bladed paddles, sitting lower than a canoe in a seated position. The double-bladed paddle helps to boost maneuverability, enabling kayakers to zigzag and travel faster through the water than is possible in a canoe. Also ideal for families and friends, kayaking enabling participants to enjoy a range of games with an added element of competition, racing against each other.

While canoes have an open-top design with the rower kneeling or sitting and using a single-bladed paddle, kayaks have a closed deck, with the kayaker seated inside and their legs stretched out in front of them. It is for this reason that canoes are sometimes likened to a people carrier and kayaks to a sports car. While a canoe is ideal for meandering gently downstream, a kayak is more suited to challenging water and competitive conditions.

In terms of clothing and accessories for kayaking and canoeing, there is some overlap. While canoeists tend to wear collared lifejackets, kayakers typically prefer a buoyancy aid that offers enhanced freedom of movement. Both kayakers and canoeists may need to protect their hands, wearing paddling gloves that come in a variety of different weights to suit different water and atmospheric conditions. Whichever discipline the paddler follows, they will need to dress appropriately for the paddling environment, taking into account their likelihood of falling in.

 

 

 

 

 

The Most Anticipated Movies of 2024

 

In addition to enjoying reading, outdoor pursuits, and travel in his spare time, entrepreneur Spencer Schar has been a movie buff since childhood. This article will provide an overview of some of the most hotly anticipated movie releases of 2024.

The Zone of Interest

Loosely based on the novel by Martin Amis, The Zone of Interest follows the holocaust from the perspective of a camp commandant and his doting family, who live next door to the concentration camp. Having been show in a limited number of US cinemas on December 15, 2023, the movie has been hailed as a masterpiece. Directed by Jonathan Glazier, the auteur behind Under the Skin and Sexy Beast, The Zone of Interest deliberately shocks, unsettles, and challenges viewers, confronting them with the “banality of evil” in an entirely novel way. The movie was well received by critics, with The Daily Telegraph acknowledging that “horrors gnaw at the edge of every shot,” while Steven Spielberg rated the movie as the best Holocaust film made since his own, Schindler’s List.

Dune: Part Two

Having been delayed by the writers’ and actors’ strikes, Dune: Part Two is the follow-up to Denis Villeneuve’s gargantuan sci-fi epic. The long-awaited sequel follows the epic journey of Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet, and also stars Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Anya Taylor-Joy, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, and Christopher Walken. The story follows Atreides and the Fremen as they battle to reclaim their land before it is too late. Tipped to gross at least $65 million in the US alone, this action-packed epic war movie received encouraging early reactions prior to release.

The End We Start From

An eco-survivalist thriller set in post-apocalyptic Britain, The End We Start From is based on the award-winning novel by Megan Hunter. The movie’s protagonist is played by Jodie Comer, who portrays a new mother forced to flee with her baby from the horror of a flooded London. As England is engulfed by flood waters civilization starts to collapse, with faltering supply chains triggering a semi-feral competition for resources. Directed by BAFTA Award winner Mahalia Belo, the movie is a gripping survival drama that depicts a world gradually falling apart, then disintegrating all at once. Tight in both budget and focus, The End We Start From is far from disaster cinema reveling in the grand spectacle of destruction, instead looking at the human condition and inviting viewers to consider what they would do in such peril with no moral guidance.