Think!

Why Crucial Decisions Can't Be Made in the Blink of an Eye

By: Michael R. LeGault

Narrated by: Michael R. LeGault

Outraged by the downward spiral of American intellect and culture, Michael R. LeGault offers the flip side of Malcolm Gladwell's best-selling phenomenon Blink, which celebrated impulse thinking over factual knowledge or critical analysis. If best-selling books are advising us to not think, LeGault argues, it comes as no surprise that sharp, incisive reasoning is on the decline, leading our society to incompetence and failure.

LeGault talks about:

• Permissive parenting and low standards that have caused an academic crisis among our children; body weights rise while grades plummet
• A culture of image and instant gratification, fed by reality shows and computer games, that has rendered curiosity of the mind and spirit all but obsolete
• Stress, aversion to taking risks, and therapy that are replacing the traditional American "can do" mind-set

Far from perpetuating the stereotype of the complacent American, LeGault maintains that Americans are abundantly gifted with the ability to fulfill our nation's greatest potential starting today, but we need smart teachers, health care workers, sales representatives, students, mechanics, and leaders to make it happen. A bracing wake-up call to America, Think! delivers a no-holds-barred prescription for reversing the erosion of American civilization.

©2006 Michael R. LeGault (P)2006 Simon & Schuster, Inc. SOUND IDEAS is an imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Divison, Simon & Schuster Inc.

Thought provoking

It starts off bashing the book called "Blink" but once he gets beyond that waste of time he covers some very useful and relevant issues. His centeral theme provides the reader with a good basis for promoting the use of Critical Thinking and an understanding of why not to use the first gut reaction that comes by.
I found it to be very easy to listen to.

Excellent idea

I was suspicious of "Blink" when I read parts of it briefly in a bookstore and the author here gives us good reason to be suspicious. As you might expect from the title, the book is about the need for all of us to think more critically about matters in life. As a former college professor, I can attest that whatever we can do to encourage critical thinking, and careful thinking in general, is worthwhile. One small critique of this audio book would be that I think this is a case of where not having the author read his/her work would be a good thing. The author reads a little slowly and I would have wanted a little more energy in the voice. Professional voice talent might have been nice. Other than that, interesting and worthwhile listening.

Great material

This is a prime example of why the new art of narration should be left to the professionals. Excellent material, however, he sounds like the teacher from Ferris Bueller's day off. The material is definitely interesting, however, he is putting me to sleep.

Good Start...but...

Think! had me in the first section - it was a good, solid platform that addressed Blink! head on. From there, however, section two drifted from the compelling start whereas Blink! stayed the course from beginning to end.

Falls pray to the same thing it tries to dispel

The audiobook was enjoyable. However, LeGault does not seem to understand the fundamental argument being made in Blink. This book comes off as a Libertarian rant mixed with a curmudgeonly old timer outlook. One of the most disappointing things was that he slams the "Blink" scientists for citing correlational research, then he continuously does it himself. He does the same thing with case studies. Overall, his argument makes sense, but misses the point.

Outstanding

Outstanding book.
Look up judge Richard Posner's book review of "Blink" and then listen to this book. Posner's take was that "Blink" was written for people who do not read, and LeGault lends his hand to that very accurate assessment.
In short, LeGault takes Gladwell, and the pseudo-intellectuals of his circle to task for the very empty, and fact free manner in which Gladwell & Co. preach their brand of agenda.
Most people I've encountered that praised "Blink" like to think of themselves as "smart" or well read. Those same people should put their open minds to a test and allow some information in that has not been scrubbed and pre-approved by the media elite.

Do not buy! This is right wing dogma at its worst

What disappointed you about Think!?

That it contained almost no critical thinking. The author used the cover of sound critical thinking to make a case for his political views.

Would you ever listen to anything by Michael R. LeGault again?

No

What aspect of Michael R. LeGault’s performance would you have changed?

It wasn't his performance that was the issue. It was his lack of balanced thought.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No--but I will use it in my critical thinking class as an example of dogma posing as balanced thought.

Any additional comments?

Very disappointing. A missed opportunity.

Subjective Ramblings of a Wana be Malcolm Gladwell

I bought this book expecting a stimulating debate to counter some of Malcolm Gladwell’s positions in “BLINK” & “Outliers”, instead I got this disappointing collection of subjective ramblings (in a dull voice to boot) that really refuted it all & nothing.

Mediocre at best, in my opinion several leagues below Mr. Gladwell’s works.

noncritical critical thinking

This book starts off with some great points - the world needs more critical thinking. I couldn't agree more.

However LeGault doesn't even take his own advice. The majority of the book is composed of several rants on a range of issues, most of which can be refuted rather easily with a bit of critical thinking.

He spends a great deal of time asserting that the jury is still out on global warming, that we shouldn't take the issue seriously. However he doesn't offer any studies or other evidence to back his claim. He must be using the popular press for his sources, because it is virtually impossible to find a single peer reviewed scientific paper that refutes the urgency of the climate crises. Take a look at the Union of Concerned Scientists (a group of 49 Nobel laureates, 63 National Medal of Science recipients, and 175 members of the National Academies) for more information.

LeGault takes many similar stances that are easy to refute: "The desires of the advertising industry have little impact on the direction of media corporations". It doesn't take much critical thinking skill to question that statement.

Or his absolute certainty that Male and Female brains are fundamentally different in a physical and inherent way. Given that our knowledge of the brain is at most limited, I question his certainty. There are many studies suggesting that these differences may, or may not, be statistically insignificant. And to state that these differences could not possibly have been a result of socialization is absurd. In an area of study where there is so much uncertainty why would he take such an extreme position?

Given the above examples (and there are others), I can only conclude that LeGault's intention for this book is not to promote critical thinking, but rather it is a platform for him to rant on his extreme viewpoints.

really, really bad

There may have been one or two good points in this book...I can't remember because the author's seething repetitive rant against feminists and environmentalists overshadowed any valid content he might have had. His insistance that climate change is non-existant destroyed any credibilty. The narration will put you to sleep.