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

CoLab Book Club - November 2025

Our final #CoLabBookClub read for the year was David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants by Malcolm Gladwell. Published back in 2013, it's still a great read that challenges how we think about power, disadvantage and what it actually takes to win.

Gladwell's a great storyteller and this book sparked plenty of debate. Some of us found it gripping, others were uncomfortable with the US-centric examples and undercurrent of violence. We didn't agree with everything but that's what made it worth reading.

Overview

Gladwell explores two big ideas through compelling stories. First, underdogs often have hidden advantages that giants completely miss. It's not about miracles, it's about finding your angle and changing how the game gets played. Second, he introduces the inverted U-shaped curve - more isn't always better. Class sizes, family income, harsh sentencing laws all have a sweet spot before they start doing more harm than good.

The book jumps from dyslexic entrepreneurs who turn their disability into a superpower, to Northern Ireland's Troubles (where military strength failed without legitimacy), to California's Three Strikes law versus Canada's approach to justice. Each story shows how weakness can become strength, and how overwhelming power often backfires.

Our Key Takeaways

✔️ Finding the angle is everything. David's slingshot versus Goliath's sword - you can't beat giants by playing their game. Change the rules.
✔️ The reverse U curve is everywhere. Too much coaching creates dependency, too much wealth kills hunger. There's usually an optimal range and the trick is working it out.
✔️ Power without legitimacy doesn't work. Even overwhelming force fails if people don't see it as legitimate.
✔️ NZ readers will get this. We know what it's like to punch above our weight and find unconventional ways to be successful.
✔️ Simple rules don't solve complex problems. One-size-fits-all approaches often fail badly.
✔️ Disadvantage can create advantage but there's no guarantee.
✔️ It's refreshingly honest about being opinion-based. Gladwell's comfortable with disagreement!

Who is it For?

A great entry point for people wanting to get into non-fiction. Especially useful for individuals, teams, and organisations trying to succeed outside the mainstream - whether you're short on resources, competing against bigger players, or turning weakness into strength.

Thank you!

Thank you Malcolm Gladwell for making us think differently about underdogs and giants. You reminded us that it's not about beating them at their own game, it's about finding the angle they can't see.

Thanks to our November #CoLabBookClub crew: Alfred Enslin (host), Angela Zuba, Ceedee Doyle, Elisabeth Stiller, Pete Tansey, Peter Bink, Sharon Blackbourn and Toni Wilson. BIG welcome to our new members Emily Cotlier and Paul Salmon! Great to have fresh voices in the group.

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