Malcolm Gladwell on 'Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know'

Date: Tuesday October 01, 2019 | 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM

Speaker(s): Malcolm Gladwell, Staff Writer, The New Yorker; Host, Revisionist History podcast; #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

In Conversation With: Heather Reisman, Founder and CEO, Indigo Books & Music Inc.

Rotman offers a Full-Time MBA program, and several programs for working professionals, including the Morning and Evening MBA, Master of Finance, One-Year Executive MBA, Global Executive MBA, Master of Financial Risk Management, Master of Management Analytics and the Graduate Diploma in Professional Acccouting.

Whichever degree or program you choose, Rotman will give an edge in your career and help you make the most of your potential.

#Rotman #RotmanSchool

[NicoFord-tcnl]

This was a wonderful discussion. Really important. I'm already a super fan of Malcolm and now I really am a fan of the interviewer.

[maxatkarimov]

My favorite author, period. his podcast is highly recommended.

[JALAJ]

He is one of the most prolific and shrewd observer of our times. Love his insights into things like these.

[MFJLabs]

Could easily have enjoyed another hour of this excellent conversation. Thank you both for sharing your time. Mrs. Reisman, your conversational interviewing skills are superior. Please consider inviting Malcolm Gladwell for another interview.

[Yesmyjamaica]

I enjoyed this so much. Malcolm Gladwell is just so wonderful. Love him. I am sorry they could not have spoken for another hour.

[kristy]

She was so respectful in those compliments at the end. I can only imagine trying to sit in front of an audience and have attention directed at my person about my work, would make me so uncomfortable. But she did it through the lens of his work. I loved that.

[verberilesliemichealace]

Malcolm is the outsider that reconciles divided sides. What an amazing conversation

[asadfami]

Malcolm Gladwell is an international treasure.

[priya-uwbd]

Loved this. What the heck do you think will happen to the US… what a blunt question.
A fantastic, beautiful story teller that leaves a strong imprint on once brain the moment you read his books.

[skippy]

She did a fantastic interview. Love me some Malcolm

[aurora]

Good discussion. She made a couple interviewing errors-
referring to Sandra Bland's taillight and Nassar being a coach instead of their doctor. Overall very interesting.

[seipjere]

Best takeaway from the entire book tour to date: ( 1:00:53 👍🏻 ) “On those moments when you have to make important decisions, and you're meeting strangers, we ought to pay attention to what (Gladwell) say(s) – which is to remove the normal processes and normal [default to truth] biases.”

i.e. Step away from the emotional triggers, *and be guided by objectivity* (more than bias, emotion + 'default to truth', wishful thinking, deference or hubris).

🕶️
🍁💘 👍🏻

[nishamenon]

The default to suspicion and coupling bits were really interesting. Couldn't stop myself from posting a video on it. :-) Let me know if any of you get the time to watch it.

[pastorghawk]

Malcom Gladwell has done it again.... “Talking To Strangers” is a game changer....

[zahirnathoo]

Sorry, who is Malcolm referring to as the CIA agent "allen" that was seconded to the white house? Anyone know?

[ottostellner]

Wow, love Malcolm’s insight. Did he and the commentator prove his point, when they both got President Trump presidency wrong (of course in retrospect).

[deano]

It seems like she’s waiting for her opportunity to respond instead of listening

[TERRENCEJJR]

Ask a question, let the guest get half way through the answer, interupt Rinse & repeat.

[AM-ormi]

Great book but I have to say, Malcolm I think, is too lenient on those who fail to report obviously suspicious behavior to police as I don't feel a bias towards truth is a legitimate reason in those cases. Reasonable evidence in such cases exists but it usually has to do with a conflict of interests that causes people to create those uncertainties/complexities in their minds. The bigger the conflict of interest, the less likely they are to act.


Take for example his chapter about the Sandusky case: Penn State coach, who has been investigated for sexually abusing boys, was found naked in a shower standing - skin to skin - behind a naked 10-12 year old boy while "clapping" sounds are heard.


Now, how can you legitimately argue that witnessing and reporting the above incident as one of the coaches did (even if it was reported as possible "horseplay") should not have shook administrators out of a default to truth, especially given Sandusky's history which they knew about? Shouldn't rationale adults who are also employers and have a responsibility to keep their campus safe have thought... 'hmm maybe we should call the police just to be safe'?!? Default to truth wasn't the issue here. There was a clear conflict of interest here as they were friends with this person for one, and the football program has a major reputation and makes hundreds of millions of dollars that pay their comfortable salaries. They had the information they needed to act, they chose not to act because they didn't want to rock the boat and so they began to say 'well maybe it was just horseplay' 'he often does this kind of stuff but its always been fine', etc, etc, etc.


If you are an employer especially, you have a duty to report such actions and should be held responsible if you don't and things turn out bad. We can't make excuses for those who fail to act especially when the victims are children or vulnerable people who can't speak for themselves.

[susanmartin]

He is certainly one of the greats of our times. Finally....a lefty who doesn't try to cram or scream his politics in the face of those of us who don't share his stance. Wish he was on my team but grateful for his super powers just the same.