Malcolm Gladwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Malcolm Gladwell
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Gladwell at SXSW 2025
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Malcolm Timothy Gladwell
3 September 1963 Fareham, England
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| Nationality | Canadian |
| Education | University of Toronto (BA) |
| Occupation | Non-fiction writer, journalist, public speaker |
| Years active | 1987–present |
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Notable work
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| Relatives | Colin Powell (distant cousin) |
Malcolm Timothy Gladwell CM (born September 3, 1963) is a Canadian writer, journalist, and speaker. He is known for his non-fiction books that explore interesting ideas from social science. Since 1996, he has been a writer for The New Yorker magazine.
Gladwell has written eight books that often look at surprising findings from research. He also hosts a popular podcast called Revisionist History. In 2011, he received the Order of Canada, a high honor in Canada.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Malcolm Gladwell was born in Fareham, England. His mother, Joyce Gladwell, is a Jamaican psychotherapist. His father, Graham Gladwell, was a mathematics professor from England. When Malcolm was six, his family moved to Elmira, Ontario, Canada.
Malcolm grew up in a rural area of Ontario. His family has a diverse background. He has said that his mother is his writing role model. Malcolm's father noticed that he was a very focused and ambitious child. When Malcolm was 11, his father let him explore the university offices. This sparked Malcolm's interest in reading and libraries.
Gladwell studied history at the University of Toronto. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1984.
Career Highlights
After college, Gladwell wanted to work in advertising. When that didn't work out, he started a job in journalism. He wrote for a magazine called The American Spectator. Later, he worked for The Washington Post from 1987 to 1996. He spent 10 years there, learning and becoming an expert writer.
In 1996, Gladwell joined The New Yorker magazine. He wanted to find interesting ideas from academic research. For his first story, he chose to write about a man who made T-shirts. He found it more interesting than writing about expensive fashion.
Gladwell became very popular with two articles he wrote in 1996. These were "The Tipping Point" and "The Coolhunt." These articles became the basis for his first book, The Tipping Point. He still writes for The New Yorker today.
How Companies Work
In 2002, Gladwell wrote about the "talent myth" in companies. He explored how some companies incorrectly believe in only rewarding "stars." He suggested that promoting people too quickly can lead to problems. He also noted that people who are too proud might become bad managers. Gladwell believes that the most successful companies value experience. They also take more time for promotions.
Malcolm Gladwell's Books
Malcolm Gladwell has published eight books. His latest book, Revenge of the Tipping Point, was released in 2024. When asked about his writing process, he said he looks for interesting stories. He also looks for interesting research. He then finds cases where these two things connect.
The Tipping Point
His first book, The Tipping Point, came out in 2000. It was inspired by a sudden drop in crime in New York City. Gladwell wanted to explain how ideas or behaviors can spread quickly. He used the idea of an "epidemic" to describe this. A "tipping point" is when something reaches a point where it spreads very fast.
Gladwell's ideas about crime were influenced by the "broken windows theory." This theory suggests that small signs of disorder can lead to more serious crime. Gladwell helped make this idea popular. He later admitted he might have "overstated its importance."
Blink
After The Tipping Point, Gladwell published Blink in 2005. This book explores how our unconscious mind makes quick decisions. It shows how past experiences help us make fast, informed choices. Gladwell used examples like the Getty kouros statue. He also looked at research on predicting divorce.
Gladwell's own experiences inspired Blink. He noticed that after he grew his hair longer, he started getting speeding tickets. He also got extra checks at airport security. Once, police stopped him because his curly hair matched a suspect's description.
Both The Tipping Point and Blink became international bestsellers. They sold millions of copies.
Outliers
Gladwell's third book, Outliers, was published in 2008. It looks at how a person's surroundings affect their success. It also considers how personal effort plays a role. Gladwell wondered why many successful corporate lawyers had similar backgrounds. He also questioned why people thought Bill Gates was successful just for being smart. Gladwell wanted to find better explanations for success.
What the Dog Saw
His fourth book, What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures, came out in 2009. This book is a collection of Gladwell's favorite articles. These articles were originally published in The New Yorker. The stories try to show the world from different viewpoints. Sometimes, that viewpoint is even from a dog.
David and Goliath
Gladwell's fifth book, David and Goliath, was released in October 2013. It explores the struggles between underdogs and favorites. The book was partly inspired by an article he wrote for The New Yorker. The book became a bestseller.
Talking to Strangers
Gladwell's sixth book, Talking to Strangers, was released in September 2019. This book examines how we interact with people we don't know. It covers examples like the deceptions of Bernie Madoff. It also looks at the trial of Amanda Knox. Gladwell was inspired by how often strangers misunderstand each other. The book challenges our usual assumptions about people we meet. It also shows the possible dangers of misreading others.
The Bomber Mafia
Gladwell's seventh book, The Bomber Mafia: A Dream, a Temptation, and the Longest Night of the Second World War, was released in April 2021.
Revenge of the Tipping Point
Gladwell's eighth book, Revenge of the Tipping Point, was released in October 2024. This book is a follow-up to his first bestseller. It discusses social epidemics and tipping points again. This time, it aims to explain the negative side of things that spread quickly.
Podcasts
Malcolm Gladwell hosts the podcast Revisionist History. It started in 2016 and has had seven seasons. Each episode questions common beliefs about a person, event, or idea. Gladwell also co-founded a podcast company called Pushkin Industries. He believes that audio can capture a certain kind of emotion.
He also has a music podcast called Broken Record. On this podcast, he interviews musicians. It has two seasons with many episodes.
A new podcast, The Unusual Suspects with Kenya Barris and Malcom Gladwell, premiered on January 30, 2025. This podcast features interviews with influential people. They discuss their paths to success. Guests have included CEO Ursula Burns and music producer Dr. Dre.
Personal Life
Malcolm Gladwell is a Christian. His family attended church in England and later in Canada. His parents are part of the Mennonite community. Gladwell reconnected with his faith while writing David and Goliath.
Gladwell was a talented runner when he was younger. He was one of Canada's fastest teenagers in the 1500 meters. He ran very fast times at ages 13 and 14. In 2014, at age 51, he ran a mile in 4 minutes and 54 seconds. At 57, he ran a mile in 5 minutes and 15 seconds.
He became a father to a daughter in 2022. In the past five years, he got engaged and had two children. He also moved from Manhattan to Hudson, New York. Gladwell loves cars and enjoys reading car magazines.
Awards and Honors
- In 2005, Time magazine named Gladwell one of its 100 most influential people.
- In 2007, he received an award for reporting on social issues. He also received an honorary degree from the University of Waterloo.
- In 2011, he was named a Member of the Order of Canada. This is a very high honor.
- He has received honorary degrees from the University of Waterloo (2007) and the University of Toronto (2011).
- He received the 2024 Audio Vanguard Award from On Air Fest.
See also
In Spanish: Malcolm Gladwell para niños
