NOVEL

SOUNDS OFF Malcolm Gladwell

The author of Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking explains the potency—and the pitfalls—of the instant judgments we all make.

ARE SNAP DECISIONS UNDERRATED? We assume the quality of a decision is directly related to the time and effort that went into making it. But there can be as much value in the blink of an eye as in months of analysis.

WHAT KIND OF JUDGMENTS ARE BEST MADE FAST? In matters of taste, people lose something by taking a long time. With romantic choices, for example, you know whom you're attracted to in the first two seconds. When you try to rationalize it, you do a much worse job.

SO OVERTHINKING IS COUNTERPRODUCTIVE? Often. In emergency rooms, doctors act in the moment. And we know cops make fewer errors when they're alone than with a partner. With decision making, there's real value in having a smaller information flow.

DO SOME PEOPLE MAKE BETTER SNAP DECISIONS THAN OTHERS? If you have experience with something, you can trust your gut feelings more. A mom may look at her child and know instantly if something's wrong. That's called women's intuition, but it's based on experience.

WHEN SHOULD WE SECOND-GUESS OUR GUT REACTIONS?

People's appearances can trigger unwarranted conclusions—that a tall handsome man will have courage and integrity, say. We should value rapid cognition but also be aware of when it leads us astray.