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Established in 2007 by the Leatherby Libraries, the Community of Readers is the summer reading program for Chapman University. This program is open to everyone who has borrowing privileges at the Leatherby Libraries and a current library account, including students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Members select books from the Leatherby Libraries and receive prizes upon submission of their first review. The only requirement is that books must be obtained through the Leatherby Libraries.

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Monday, June 20, 2016

David and Goliath : underdogs, misfits, and the art of battling giants



Title
David and Goliath : underdogs, misfits, and the art of battling giants
Author
Malcolm Gladwell
Call Number
BF503 .G53 2013  
Location
2nd Floor Social Sciences
Rating
Somewhat Recommended
Book Review
While I agree with the basic premise of this book, that challenges and disadvantages can sometimes open up opportunities and abilities that could not have been attained without the disadvantage, something about the anecdotal way in which Gladwell makes his points didn’t ring true for me. There are many many instances of people with disadvantages such as dyslexia that do not see the same results as those profiled in these chapters. There were several parts of this book that I did enjoy, particularly those on the tactics used by civil rights activists and the way the British failed in their approach to controlling The Troubles in Ireland.
I have to say that what really ruined this book for me was the chapter on the science student who couldn’t hack science in an Ivy League school and was forced to settle for an arts degree. This kind of thinking is small minded and even dangerous in the current environment where teachers of the arts are constantly fighting to retain their funding in many schools and universities.
Submitted By
Taylor Greene
Department or Major
Leatherby Libraries
Status
Staff
Chapman Email

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