Is there anything better than a good book?

If no one can find me, I’m usually hidden somewhere comfortable, often the deck of my cabin, engrossed in a good book. 

I’ve been completely smitten by Malcolm Gladwell recently. I knew of him, but hadn’t read any of his work. I picked up ‘Outliers’ first, his book about what makes people outlier in their field i.e. athletes, lawyers, coders etc. The book was fantastic, but it was his style that grabbed me. I’ve never read writing so gripping, on a complex subject, yet so easy to follow. I was hooked. 

Since then I’ve read “Talking to Strangers”, his most recent book about how inept we all are at interacting with people we’ve never met. And just finished ‘Blink’ – which is about how good the human mind is at making snap decisions, and what it means to trust your gut. I’ve read most of his articles for The New Yorker, where he’s a staff writer, and have done his masterclass on writing. I just can’t get enough of his work. The man’s a genius! 

I wouldn’t have had the time or mental space delve so deep into Gladwell had I not been living in the cabin. Without the distractions of my phone, the allure of Netflix, or chat of other people, I’m able to fully immerse myself in these great books. 

If you’re looking for something to read – pick up anything by Gladwell. He’ll’ change your life.