David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

In the Introduction, Gladwell creates a vision of Goliath that is terrifying. He is heavily armed with various blades and a spear, his armor weighs as much as a normal man’s body, and he is close to seven feet tall. He is unbeaten in single combat and when he bellows his challenge to the Israelites, no one steps forth until David. In effect, Goliath is only formidable provided that someone fights him on his own terms, in a manner that he is familiar with, or ideally one that he chooses. Gladwell focuses on Goliath’s poor eyesight, his possible thyroid condition, the cumbersome nature of that impenetrable armor, and his lack of speed. Once David is running towards him, whirling the sling, Goliath is confused and vulnerable in the brief moments before he is killed. In Gladwell’s formulation, every giant can be put in this position: seeing some seemingly weaker rush towards him, pressing some unseen advantage that no one anticipated. If true, Gladwell hopes that it will give courage to those who find themselves outmatched and inspire those who believe in causes and conflicts that seem unwinnable. Myopia is an enemy to progress, and assuming that a powerful enemy cannot be beaten will always ensure that they remain victorious and intimidating.