Careful scientific evaluation suggests the kouros might be authentic, but several antiquities experts merely look at the sculpture and declare it fake, which is later revealed to be the truth. The kouros was the kind of thing that art experts argued about at conferences. The power of thinking without thinking by malcolm gladwell. Shortform has the worlds best summaries of books you should be. Gladwell spends the first chapter of the book talking about the getty kouros. Although the influence of many nations can be discerned in particular elements of these figures, the first appearance of such monumental stone figures seems to coincide with the reopening. Blink by malcolm gladwell pdf download free ebooks.
Ive always considered scientific opinion more objective than aesthetic judgments, said gettys curator of antiquities marion true. Several experts, including scientists, had authenticated a kouros bought by the museum in 1984, but the legendary thomas hoving, former director of new yorks metropolitan. The power of thinking without thinking by malcolm gladwell i recently finished blink by malcolm gladwell who is famous for his book the tipping point. Paul getty museum malibu, january 19 to september 5, 1993. Media in category getty kouros the following 8 files are in this category, out of 8 total. But then, bit by bit, the getty s case began to fall apart. The power of thinking without thinking malcolm gladwell for a time it wasnt clear. With this striking illustration of the power of intuition, gladwell begins his book. The earthquake isolation system created for the famous getty kouros statue. The letters the gettys lawyers used to carefully trace the kouros back to the swiss physician lauffenberger, for.
In blink, gladwell revolutionizes the way we understand the world within us. Over the following pages, gladwell describes what happened next as the getty began an investigation, comparing the kouros to others that had been found, looking into its provenance, examining a. Malcolm gladwell author, narrator, hachette audio publisher get audible free. The book begins with the story of the getty kouros archaic greek sculptors reduced human anatomy and musculature in these statues to decorative patterning on the surface of the marble. The letters the getty s lawyers used to carefully trace the kouros back to the swiss physician lauffenberger, for. The book begins with the story of the getty kouros, which was a statue brought to the j. The getty s legal team confirmed the getty kouros authenticity.
The books introduction uses an example of what gladwell means by thinslicing through a rare ancient greek statue, called a kouros, at the j. Until the sculptures authenticity is confirmed, the display notes for the getty kouros remark that the sculpture may date back to 530 b. Quinet, i read a ton of nonfiction, selfhelp books this summer. Kouros, archaic greek statue representing a young standing male. The power of thinking without thinking drawing on cuttingedge neuroscience and psychology and displaying all of the brilliance that made the tipping point a classic, blink changes the way youll understand every decision you make.
The statue seemed to be consistent with other known kouroi, and its style resembled a kouros at the national archaeological museum in athens meaning it had a counterpart that came from a. The statue that didnt look right ad12 it e ence of athens, meaning that it seemed to fit with a particular. In my first post, i thought i might give some contextual information on gladwells discussion of the infamous getty kouros statuein order to deepen our understanding of the authors argument and also to give you glimpse into. Never again will you think about thinking the same way.
The book begins with the story of the getty kouros, which was a statue. The getty kouros may 1, 1992 to september 5, 1993 goulandris museum of natural history athens, may 1 to july 31, 1992. Paul getty museums purchase of a forged statue that could have been avoided if experts would have listened to their first impression. Today, when the kouros is displayed, it comes with a. The first to point this out was an italian art historian named federico zeri, who served on the gettys board of trustees. But the case of another famous fraud, the getty kouros, offers some interesting hints. In blink, author malcolm gladwell argues persuasively that much of. It was proved by many experts to be legitimate, but when experts first looked at it, their initial responses said something was not right. My favorite was malcom gladwells blink, which was about the power of first instincts and the importance of not doubting your decisions.
The seller claimed the getty kouros was from the sixth century bc, and had the paperwork to prove it. The introduction focuses on the getty kouros, an ancient greek statue that, if genuine, would be a highlight of the museums collection. While lawyers and scientists pored over the statue for months to prove its authenticity, a few experts took one look at the statue and knew it was fake. The power of thinking without thinking back bay books. The museum notes that anomalies of the getty kouros may be due more to our limited knowledge of greek sculpture in this period rather than to mistakes on the part of a forger.
As gladwell interprets it, the history of the gettys kouros suggests that sometimes, intuition can be more powerful than rationality. Even after the latest round of tests, the sculpture remains an enigma. The getty kouros was officially deemed a forgery artsy. For some time, the museum clung to its argument that the sculpture was real. The largerthanlifesize marble version of a naked youth, or kouros, stands in a laboratory behind the j. Now that you know what the book is about, lets proceed to the blink malcolm gladwell summary chapterbychapter. When zeri was taken down to the museums restoration studio to see the kouros in december of 1983, he found himself staring at the sculptures fingernails. In the end, hunches turned out to be more insightful and perceptive than months of formal research. John gottman is a researcher on marital relationships. Why are some people brilliant decision makers, while others are consistently inept. The power of thinking without thinking 2005 is malcolm gladwells second book. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. This second book by the worlds top journalistbusiness guru, makes a very attractive proposition.
Download blink by malcolm gladwell pdf book free blink. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. John gottman is a researcher well known for his work on marital relationships. The gettys legal team confirmed the getty kouros authenticity. As gladwell interprets it, the history of the getty s kouros suggests that sometimes, intuition can be more powerful than rationality. The power of thinking without thinking with the story of a kouros, an ancient greek statue of a youth that came on the art. The power of thinking without thinking, malcolm gladwell.
When we thinslice, we edit our surroundings unconsciously by recognizing patterns and making snap judgments. Learn why the getty kouros is so controversial and may be fake. In his book blink, malcolm gladwell famously describes the allegedly fake kouros, a greek statue expensively purchased by the getty museum and authenticated by careful science, which some art. Antiquities as evidence december 16, 1997 to january 17, 1999 the j. This volume brings together the nineteen papers delivered at the colloquium in athens that convened the worlds scholars and scientists to discuss the authenticity of the controversial kouros acquired by the j. Contributors provide the first balanced discussion of the sculptures authenticity. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Blink the power of thinking without thinking malcolm. This article is an excerpt from the shortform summary of blink by malcolm gladwell. A different and better world there are lots of books that tackle broad themes, that. The statue seemed to be consistent with other known kouroi, and its style resembled a kouros at the national archaeological museum in athens meaning it had a counterpart that came from a particular time and place. Blink is a book about how we think without thinking, about choices that seem to be made in an instantin the blink of an eyethat actually arent as simple as they seem.
The getty kouros is an overlifesized statue in the form of a late archaic greek kouros. The power of thinking without thinking back bay books, 2005, is not a book about investing. There are lots of books that tackle broad themes, that ana. Paul getty museums kouros, a kind of statue produced widely in ancient greece. The getty took the kouros on loan and began a thorough investigation in attempt to authenticate it. The power of thinking without thinking with the story of a kouros, an. This volume brings together the nineteen papers delivered at the 1992 colloquium in athens that convened the worlds scholars and scientists to discuss the authenticity of the controversial kouros acquired by the j.
The odd thing is that getty bought the kouros anyway. It presents in popular science format research from psychology and behavioral economics on the adaptive unconscious. Blink tells more stories about judging from first impressions. A geologist used hightech science to determine that the dolomite marble of the getty kouros came from an ancient thasos quarry. In 1992, the getty sponsored an international colloquium on the kouros and the question of its authenticity.
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