David and GoliathDavid and Goliath
Score Modern
What it's about
We all know underdogs can win, or do we? Malcolm Gladwell uncovers the hidden rules that shape the balance between the weak and the mighty, from Northern Ireland and Vietnam to cancer research and the civil rights movement, and argues that disadvantages can become strengths.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 54 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists.
You'll love it if you liked
Outliers: The Story of Success
Talking to Strangers
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big DifferenceGood to know
Some critics question its use of research, but it's very readable.
By the numbers
- Readers20 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller61 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #71 of the 85 self-help and business books we rank
- #107 of the 119 science and ideas books we rank
- #1155 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2137 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Practical, Thought-provoking
More by Malcolm Gladwell
Outliers: The Story of SuccessThe Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
BlinkTalking to StrangersIf you like this, read next
The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine
The Age of Surveillance Capitalism
The Signal and the Noise
Liar's Poker: Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street
Abundance
When Breath Becomes AirExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Science and ideas booksTop 25 · 119 ranked
Self-help and business booksTop 25 · 85 ranked
Modern booksTop 25 · 1,573 ranked
Books of the 2010sTop 25 · 736 ranked
Fantasy booksTop 25 · 459 ranked
Mysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 ranked
Literary novelsTop 25 · 309 ranked
Memoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 rankedQuick answers
Is David and Goliath worth reading?
Yes. It spent 54 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #2,137 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 62.5 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is David and Goliath about?
We all know underdogs can win, or do we? Malcolm Gladwell uncovers the hidden rules that shape the balance between the weak and the mighty, from Northern Ireland and Vietnam to cancer research and the civil rights movement, and argues that disadvantages can become strengths.
How long does it take to read David and Goliath?
About 8 hours (305 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after David and Goliath?
If you liked it, try Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell, Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell or The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell.