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October 5: Malcolm Gladwell Comes to Chattanooga Thursday, September 09, 2010
In just a few weeks, Malcolm Gladwell will address the Chattanooga community as the opening speaker in the 2010-2011 George T. Hunter Lecture Series. A New York Times Bestselling author, journalist, and staff writer for The New Yorker magazine, Mr. Gladwell is known around the world for his unique ability to dissect complex ideas and retell them in a readily understandable manner using stories, illustrations, and clear, accessible language.
We’re particularly excited for Malcolm Gladwell’s Chattanooga visit as his work has had a profound influence on the way we do things at CreateHere. To prepare for the lecture on October 5, we’ve gone back and looked at Mr. Gladwell’s three acclaimed bestsellers (The Tipping Point, Blink, and Outliers) with increased awareness of his bold adherence to the notion that it is the little things in life that often make the biggest difference.
For example: one of Gladwell’s most influential ideas is that when it comes to information sharing, the actual information being shared with an audience is far less important than the way it is presented and the context in which the audience hears it. The most successful ideas aren’t always communicated best through huge, sweeping campaigns, but often through the influence of a well-connected person or a someone with a widely respected opinion.
Another one of Gladwell’s most potent observations reveals how subjects commonly relegated to the field of social science—“little” things like personal thoughts, perceptions, and habits—are actually pivotal points of interest for businesses and communities and are often catalysts for larger waves of change. For Gladwell, instantaneous reactions—a “gut feeling” about something—can be just as valid as a lengthy analysis.
Malcolm Gladwell has challenged the way we think about our city and ourselves. We hope you will be take advantage of this rare opportunity to hear an engaging, enlightening, free lecture from one of the world’s most influential minds.
When: October 5, 2010 at 7:00pm
Where: The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in the Roland-Hayes Concert Hall
Cost: FREE (space will be limited; overflow seating will be available)A live Twitter feed will be active during the lecture to capture audience thoughts and reactions. Bring your smartphones!
