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

I read along with the book as I listened to the audio, narrated by the author himself. Three things stood out: 1) if in the book Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 were written, you may hear 1, 3, 2. 2) Some stats changed in one of the chapters. and 3) some things were left out or changed. For instance, in one part of the book it said something to the effect of: Is this the right question to ask.... and the audio would have something to the effect of: This however, is not the right question: A point of something for you to ponder became a statement. Perhaps the audio version and my paper version were from two different editions, perhaps the author updated for the audio or read the audio from a draft version of the book. This book was insightful and I learned some history from it and it made me think. These differences are minor and no matter which version you choose the book is wonderful.

I admittedly DNFed this book. The idea of underdog success is interesting, but the more I read the more I decided his initial example of David and Goliath was wrong. The mechanics he explains are right, but David had God on his side-he was far from an underdog.

The chapter about the Salon and the impressionists leaves out significant detail.

Asking someone if you want your child to have a learning disability because he found a few successful people that were dyslexic is absurd. I'm glad for their success, but the reality of it being the result of a disability is ludicrous. It was grit and determination that made those people, not their inability to read well. We are a species of adaptations to overcome diversity.

To suggest that you should choose to attend a college that is easier rather than go to an Ivy League when you've been accepted so you don't feel dumb, is also ridiculous. I can't imagine telling my own child "here go to this university because, here you'll be a big fish in a little pond rather than challenge yourself by being a little fish in a big pond." The whole concept of post secondary education is to be challenged. To rise above. To be great.


This book was dreary and dull. I did not find myself cheering for an underdog. I found myself annoyed at the amount flawed research, poor examples, and lack of interest in telling a story. I literally did not care what the next example was going to be. People overcome obstacles every day – that does not mean that they are underdogs. We live in a world of diversity, we all adapt as needed-we are all underdogs.

I originally read this book when it was first released and I listen to it every January to remind myself to be bold and that I can always win against a giant, no matter what!

It was obvious how the author felt about certain issues. In this context that really should be expected. The stories were well researched and told well. There were certain chapters I had to push to get through. The dyslexia chapter and the chapter about the three strike penalties were not easy chapters for me.

The last chapter about Le Chambon was absolutely fabulous. It was about one of my favorite time periods, WWII, and was a story I had never heard before about people who were wonderful.

In the different examples used throughout the book I was interested how the people were able to accomplish everything they did and the different ways they were able to make those accomplishments.

Amazing first chapter and some interesting ideas that were somewhat supported but overall not a tightly-argued or edited book. First chapter is worth rereading any time you need inspiration.