David And Goliath Chapter 4 Summary

Author, Malcolm Gladwell, in chapter 4 of his book titled, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants, challenges the common definition of the word “disadvantage” by using evidence about people who are dyslexic. He uses logical and emotional appeals and repetition to make the reader question their interpretations of disadvantages, to emphasize we can overcome those difficulties and to suggest that some difficulties may even be desirable. Gladwell opens the chapter expounding upon what dyslexia is and what a disadvantage it can be. He appeals to the logical side of readers with the statement, “What do we mean when we call something a disadvantage? Conventional wisdom holds that a disadvantage is something that ought to be avoided—that it is a setback or a difficulty that leaves you worse off than you would be otherwise. But that is not …show more content…
He utilizes sentiment from Mr. Boies himself, “If I could read a lot faster, it would make a lot of things that I do easier,” Boies said. “There’s no doubt about that. But on the other hand, not being able to read a lot and learning by listening and asking questions means that I need to simplify issues to their basics. And that is very powerful, because in trial cases, judges and jurors—neither of them have the time or the ability to become an expert in the subject. One of my strengths is presenting a case that they can understand” (62). He uses the words of Boies in order to bring more feeling into the telling of the tale of triumph over adversity. This outpouring of emotions and struggles from Boies intends to convey the idea of desirable difficulties and the rise of the underdog. Putting it in the words of Boies himself allows for a deeper emotional connection with the reader and inspires possible feelings of