Overestimating Giants

In his David and Goliath talk, Malcolm Gladwell breaks down a well-known Biblical anecdote and how we have come to misunderstand it. The story of David and Goliath is often used to describe situations of unlikely victories and the underdog. However, Gladwell explains this is not necessarily accurate. He explains how David was a slinger, an important part of the army's artillery and why he was more powerful than it might appear. On the other hand Goliath's giantism could be caused by a medical condition affecting his vision. This would explain several inconsistencies on his end that are explained in the Bible.

This lesson teaches us not to overestimate or underestimate our opponents and to maintain perspective. Sometimes giants aren't as formidable as they seem and sometimes the shepherd has a sling. The concepts explored in this David and Goliath talk are further examined in Gladwell's new book.