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

David and Goliath the epic battle of the bible! Everyone knows the story of an unlikely shepherd that changes the history of a nation and sets in motion things that forever altered history. With brothers twice his size and ultimately more skilled, a little shepherd boy steps onto a bloody battle field and destroys the enemy. There are some who would argue the basis of this book - that struggle and adversity often create heroic people. However, I have to agree that circumstances that create stress in our lives often cause a person to strive harder for success - or cause a person to fold under the stress and settle for mediocrity. Some of the greatest individual and most influential people in history are those who's lives are less than perfect. Immediately upon beginning this book I began to think of Helen Keller - a young girl without the benefit of sight or hearing - in a time without modern conveniences and tools to make life easier. No one thought Helen Keller would do much or that she would be a success at anything. Yet with the help of just a few who believed in her and with a stubborn streak she mastered sign. Her life then inspired countless others to face and defeat the giants within their lives. This book is written on this premise - that greatness is in the hands of the Lord and we must trust the Author for the strength to face and defeat the "giants" of our lives. Things that are meant to intimidate, destroy, devastate and defeat us can in fact make us great. Thanks to B&B Media for this review copy.