What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures

What role does adventure play in Gladwell’s oeuvre? How does an adventurous approach to writing differ from a purely argumentative one?

How does Gladwell present the gap between information and interpretation? Why do an abundance of statistics and increasingly accurate imagery do little to help us solve our most pressing issues?

Describe Gladwell’s approach to failure. What case does he make for studying failure alongside success?

What type of person constitutes a minor genius? How does Gladwell show that minor geniuses are essential to social progress and the improvement of everyday life in the United States?

Do a close reading of three of Gladwell’s character studies. What impact does his study of physicality, gesture, behavior, and pattern of speech have on the arguments he is making?

Why are dogs important in Gladwell’s book? What does entering a canine perspective teach us about human society?

What use does Gladwell make of hindsight? In your opinion and with close reference to the text, how helpful is hindsight in the resolution of problems and the prevention of future ones?

How does Gladwell present the decision-making process? What can distract us during decision-making, and to what extent are deliberated decisions better than impulsive ones?