Back when we lived in Connecticut, my “Upsilamba” book group enjoyed discussing Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point, which explains why some trends take off, and the 3 personality types that can help trends along. We were labelling each other, “you’re a connector,” “Carolann is a maven,” “Toni is a salesman,” etc. I still mentally categorize people after I meet them :)
Last spring, our neighborhood book group, the “Rev Road Readers”, had a lively discussion about Gladwell’s Blink. We had each taken the Implicit Association Test online and were surprised at our hidden biases!
Now Gladwell offers Outliers: The Story of Success, which takes a closer look at those people on the high end of a bell curve. Here’s the publisher’s synopsis:
In this stunning new audiobook, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of “outliers”–the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different? His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band.
Sounds interesting, doesn’t it? The generous folks at Hachette Book Group have offered up to 3 copies of the audiobook (one for every 5 entries received), read by the author (if you’ve read any of my posts about author events, you know I love hearing an author’s words in his/her own voice … I’m so pleased the Malcolm performs Outliers for us!). If you’d like a chance to win this 7-CD set, simply leave a comment indicating if you’ve read (or listened to!) any of Gladwell’s other books, and where you’d listen to this (in the car? commuting? at home? download it to MP3 player?). Random.org will help me with a random drawing next Friday, December 19. Contest open in the U.S. and Canada only; no P.O. Boxes.
This just in: George at the Dark Party Review is also hosting a giveaway of Outliers! Click here to read some of George’s “literate blather” and to throw your name in the hat for another chance to win this great audiobook.
Watch this CNN interview – Malcolm Gladwell shares more about Outliers -
I am in the car right now on a 6 hour drive…. Listening to a good book rather than playing with my husbands crackberry…sounds good. The book sounds intriguing.
Hello! PO Box girl here… no need to enter me. I’m just letting you know I’ve posted this over at Win a Book…
if i won this i would listen to it on my way home!
I have read his tipping point and it was so interesting! i would love to hear/read his newest one!!
thanks!
I’ve never listened to any of his books, but I would love to start. My hubby and I are always listening to audio books in the car on the commute to and from work and our trips across the state to visit with friends, etc. I’d love to be considered for he giveaway.
savvyverseandwit AT gmail DOT com
While I’ve never listened to a Malcolm Gladwell audio book, I just have to post and say what an amazing contest and great blog post. It’s hard to get people excited about audio books — but the content is just so interesting, from who does the reading to the old, well worn idea of never being too old to listen to a story. Personally, I listen to audio books all summer as I’m driving back and forth from the cottage — it’s how I got through Harry Potter!
I saw Gladwell interviewed several times (I think on Colbert), and always meant to pick up The Tipping Point, but I haven’t yet had the chance to read any of his books.
I’d listen to Outliers on my daily walk–Nothing like a good distraction.
I have read both Blink and The Tipping Point; I have two copies of the latter, one for lending and one for keeping on the shelf. I would listen to Outliers on my iPhone, during walks and workouts.
I’ve read both The Tipping Point and Blink and loved both of them. I have yet to listen to him read his own words, but would really like that.
I would probably listen to it on my ipod at home or on the go.
Thanks for having a giveaway!
We have to do a lot of road trips after the Holiday’s. I’d listen to it in the car on one of those. A good book easily trumps pandering for a radio station. Also, I blogged about this contest at:
smbooks.blogspot.com
Thanks!
Sararush at hotmail dot com
Seems like we all spend half our lives driving somewhere. There’s been times I am just ready to go bonkers ! if I don’t get out from behind that steering wheel. So yes, please add my name for the contest. I would love to hear something other than playing “what’s that noise?” with my 14 year old car.
I’ve never read (or listened to) Malcolm Gladwell before. I agree that some of the best audio books are those that are read by their author though.
Outliers is really a great book. The problem is Gladwell leaves little room for critical thinking by interlacing his opinion and ideas throughout the book. I like to form my own thoughts based on research. But I think for the target this was a great book.
I wish I’d been born at the right time and had 10k hours of practice at doing something. Maybe blogging will help my writing skills.
http://www.paunchiness.com/i-finished-outliers-last-night/
I’ve never read Malcolm Gladwell, but if I won, I would listen to it in my car.
I have never read or listened to Gladwell’s books-I’d listen in my car
I have “The Tipping Point” and “Blink” as books and also have “The Tipping Point” in audio CDs. I would love to have “Outliers” in audio. I would listen to it in my car.
Thanks for the opportunity to win this!
nite-swimming at hotmail dot com
I have read Tipping Point and Blink. I really enjoyed them. I’m moving to a new house this month and it will double my commute to work. So, that’s where I’d be listening.
wow i’d love to read his book it sounds really good! i really wanted to read tipping point but i always wanted to!
I thought the book was excellent. I wrote my review of Outliers on my blog.
I am currently working on my 10k hours as a writer hopefully I’ll get get at it someday.
I’ve read both Blink and The Tipping Point, & I really enjoyed them. My dad read those books also, so we had some interesting discussions about them. If I won the audiobook, I would listen to it in my car and maybe on long walks with my dog.
I have never read any of his books, but would be thrilled to start with this one. I have an hor drive to work each way and this would be great during the long drive.
I have read The Tipping Point. Now a days Because of time constraints I prefer to hear audio books. I am glad The Outliers is in audio form.
I have not yet read any of his books, but this would be a great start – they sound great and I would listen to it curled up at home.
I’ve never read any of Malcolm Gladwell’s books before but I’ve heard great things about this one. I never seem to have enough audio books, I listen to them while I knit, because I haven’t quite figured out reading and knitting at the same time yet, lol.
Thanks!
Liz
liz(dot)russove(at)gmail(dot)com
I haven’t listened to any of his yet, but I’d do it on the treadmill.
Heard him on the BBC recently. Interesting guy.
I would listen to “Outliers” as I was doing something else. like reading outliers.
I have never read or listened to any of his books (yet!)
I would listen on my mp3 player while I washed dished 
That’s my favorite time to listen to audiobooks 
[...] She is Too Fond of Books: Win “Outliers” Audiobook by Malcolm Gladwell Ends: Dec 19 [...]
[...] She is Too Fond of Books: Win “Outliers” Audiobook by Malcolm Gladwell Ends: Dec 19 [...]
Loved his interview. I think I would really enjoy this audio series.
I am a huge fan of this author. I made my bookgroup read both of them and the discussions that followed were very thought provoking.
I listened to Blink on my ipod while running, in advance of my Rev Road book group with “She is too fond…” Loved Gladwell’s book – and hearing his voice! I have been holding back on purchasing Outliers (wanting to…but there’s this recession). I’d LOVE to listen to it – I’d put the CD on my ipod and get right back to my Gladwell-inspired runs.
Oh goody! I’m having a ball going through your blog, Dawn. And now this…can you tell I’m excited?
I’ve actually read The Tipping Point and heard Mr. Gladwell speak at a conference I attended a couple years back…it was awesome.
I’d love to listen to this and I’d most likely listen to it while lounging in bed. (And if anyone’s mind went there, I’ll beg you to quickly remove it from the gutter please.
)
I have never listened or read any of Malcoms books. But I listen everyday to audio books to/from work, and would love to hear this one.
I listed to my first audiobook (Outliers) on a 7hr car trip as offered to me by my daughter, Alyshia.
BEST book ever, next to the Bible, for insight into who we are and why. LOVED every minute and kept me alert and fully awake the whole trip.
Author’s reading was very good also, in his tone and accenting of critical words/sentences.
HIGHLY recommended.