What the Dog Saw and Other Adventures

What the Dog Saw and Other Adventures
By Malcolm Gladwell
Little, Brown and Company, 2009. 410 pgs. Nonfiction

This is a collection of Gladwell’s writings that were previously published in The New Yorker over the past ten years. Topics range from why there are dozens of flavors for mustard but only one for ketchup, why mammograms are not as effective as we think they are, how the history of hair dye is a history of societal changes, and why smart people are overrated. Each article is written with Gladwell’s sense of humor and sense of wonder at the world around us and it’s constant ability to surprise and amaze.

Gladwell fans will all enjoy this collection of writings. Not all articles are as intriguing as others, but the collection as a whole is well worth reading. Some topics are reminiscent of his other titles which is not much of a surprise since they were written at the same time. Malcolm Gladwell is, without doubt, one of the most talented narrative nonfiction writers publishing today and this work is a great addition to his already impressive shelf.

CZ