Malcolm Gladwell: "I Just Want To Explain Things To People"

[@Manny123-y3j]

I wish more writers and authors would be invited to these shows. That was what made The Report and Daily Show so great: they had all kinds of people on for interviews, and even if they weren't "celebrities," they were still interesting guests. If we would showcase writers and intellectuals more, perhaps we could get America reading and thinking again.

[@dubulous4455]

so great? youre an idiot.

[@timothywalker1279]

GuppyPal agree

[@jerrysherman2743]

@@dubulous4455 What is WRONG with you?

[@Mmm-vs3rt]

@@jerrysherman2743 a few marbles missing from their brain methinks

[@matthewminix6167]

Colbert tried that for his first month or so on this program... and his ratings sunk. His early guest lists were precisely what you suggest- and no one watched. So he had to retool and get the celebrity guests to keep the show afloat. Sad, but true.

[@francismuiruri9064]

Discovered him yesterday cannot get enough. Malcolm Gladwell I salute you.

[@kimberleful]

Me tooooo

[@kimberleful]

Omg me toooo just yesterday which blows my mind

[@tclmac1]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJzLd5trgthkrMUsi=jH3jg70Ee0phGZoy

[@NTJordan]

I really like Stephen Colbert's version of The Late Show, because he addresses important topics and talks to people that most other hosts don't. I really like his approach.

[@skaarphy5797]

Me too. So glad he took over. Never seen Letterman genuinely invested, or even interested, in what he was doing. For me that aloofness got old very quickly.

[@GreyJedi17]

Exactly. Only colbert can think of having Gladwell in to talk about a podcast. Love both of them.

[@WintersNstuff]

the fact that hes using one of the largest platforms in media for good speaks volumes about stephen colbert, hes the man

[@YPeezy]

Colbert is ultra talented

[@quinnc1944]

I have noticed though that the majority of his interviews are left leaning, where he helps the interviewees out, but whenever he brings on a right wing person he tries to discredit their claims...

[@mipmip5759]

Just was linked here from the Jimmy Kimmel interview, very different vibe. Colbert flattens the interview into platitudes while Kimmel leaves more space, which if you had asked me beforehand I would have guessed the other way around.

[@empireoflightz]

Not sure why you would've expected that, both of them have interviews where they seem to try too much and don't let their guest speak but Colbert does it much more often

[@KathyTOEFLTeacherLessons]

Sooooo true!!

[@jimmyboyle3543]

oflightz yea I certainly didn’t expect Colbert to be so dismissive and combative with such a serious intellectual but here we are

[@apricity2994]

@@jimmyboyle3543 it's as if Colbert thinks it's a competition. It seems like he doesn't want to be outshined.

[@JABS991]

Colbert engages more. He pushes back to explore and define the concept. But Jimmys good too.

[@rockninsockn]

I love how Gladwell is being authentic in the show and make the conversation much more human than usually at these shows.

[@Azphadel]

Malcolm Gladwell is by far my favorite author! I had never fallen in love with a nonfiction book until I read his books.

[@TheFamousMockingbird]

You should not consider gladwell's writing as unquestioned truth. He has a very long history of intellectual dishonesty, often misrepresenting things what at this point is starting to seem is done intentionally

[@breeleigh2002]

Azphadel and now you’re addicted, right?? Lol

[@kimberleful]

Cant wait to join the club just found out about him yest. Luke i was under a rock

[@louisefromscotland3336]

For all of us actually interested in what he was trying to say 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

[@nozecone]

I have no idea what all those squares and female-symbols are supposed to mean - but I think I agree.

[@joyandpeacefullaughter5307]

Me too. The interviewer was trying to make everyone laugh it was so annoying.

[@psd1955]

"You think with your eyes and feel with your ears." @1:33

[@appletree6898]

I mean...music? But...art?

[@sarahafzal7183]

Aw man i felt sad when he wanted to say something at the end but colbert cut him off. I know there s a time crunch. It just made me sad 🤷 . He s so interesting to listen to. Didn't want him to stop

[@irenebritt5115]

Of COURSE Stephen had Malcolm Gladwell as a guest. Mr. Colbert is the only intellectually stimulating talk show host on air. Thank you for being you. Keep the quality bar high, sir.

[@tierrapetersen4651]

I just listened to the interview from the mennonite man at work today and I was crying. I don't do that ever. Especially not at work. Malcolm is a genius storyteller, I love this man.

[@kali2593]

thank you i needed a new podcast to listen too

[@JDBenavidez]

You won't regret it.

[@ramseyphdone6926]

I heart Mr.Gladwell's glasses.

[@OrionoftheStar]

Good stories can still make you cry. I've read a few where I just felt ragged, torn, and empty when I finished them.

[@alvinrozon2687]

Colbert, your show just keeps getting better.

[@theOnyFUFU]

Kinda wish he'd have more of an edge in his monologues (like he did when the show started), instead of going with the trend of cuddly puppy dog (like Fallon) but I love the show nonetheless!

[@theOnyFUFU]

+Jogoh Luther could be. his monologues don't have as much attitude in them as they did when he started but I could be wrong; I haven't watched a full episode in a while.

[@thsu8]

Leno still better.

[@ethantwolfe]

Fawad B C

[@sarahsulwey2146]

Absolutely amazing author. The Tipping Point and Outliers

[@PhillyFrank1]

I can think of written work that makes me cry -- every time. Part of it is how well one can comprehend and, hence, "feel" what one is reading.

[@jojomakes]

How is it possible for one person to look Black, White, Asian, Latino, Native American, young, old, male and female at the same exact time?

[@nozecone]

Not fat and skinny, though.

[@cherylmaclean3689]

I've read many of Malcolm Gladwell's books and "Outliers' is one of my favourite books I've ever read. So fascinating!

[@hola0726]

Love gladwell's glasses! And his books. Will definitely listen to his podcast

[@rileyhowerzyl]

His episode “Generous Orthodoxy” on Revisionist History brought me to tears so I definitely agree. His statements about seeing versus hearing are not definitive and I don’t think he intended them to be, but at least for Gladwell as an author I can say that I cried when hearing his podcast rather than while reading his books.

[@emilylashelle8122]

It's funny because he critiques Colbert's methods of satire in the last episode

[@mj_dj]

As far as I recall his critique was that there is such a big gap between Colbert the person they met backstage and the right-wing caricature he portrayed on the Report that people were often blindsided when they were confronted with the persona on air, which made it difficult for some to adjust to the format of the show. This in turn led to a lot of political ambiguity where some (mostly right-wingers) saw the Report-Colbert as exposing the left-wing/liberals as not even having a grip on their own ideas or not being able to defend themselves properly (which, by the design of the heightened and satirical nature of the character obviously wasn't his intention).

[@ms.disapoint4808]

he doesn't critique Colbert's methods. He says he's a genius because of how Colbert is able to appeal to both sides of the audience: the conservatives and the Liberal. What he critiques is satires effectiveness in political discussions.

[@SteveSilverActor]

As an actor, I found this interview very interesting. For some, laughing comes much easier than crying. For others, it's the reverse. Both, however, require vulnerability.

[@mikee702]

@Cuthbert Bracegirdle lol agreed. That's hardly a groundbreaking thought.

[@belforio]

First time I've heard of this Malcolm fella. I need more!

[@tmarcato222]

I think both laughter and emotional moments are both important. It's just what you're looking for.

[@sharpieRulestheWorld]

Homecoming King by Hasan Minhaj is a good example of one that beautifully blurs the line of laugher & sadness while packing meaning

[@solarplexus7]

Making you cry will make you remember it more, but when something is funny, people are more likely to revisit it. Schindler's List vs Anchorman.

[@TylerMatthewSimpson]

True, but it's obvious which of those is a more important piece of art.

[@MyManD]

Wholeheartedly agree. Brick Tamland killing a man with a trident is a seminal moment in the history of cinema.

[@Lameducks]

Tyler you're completely right, Ill never forget what Anchorman did for my life. It touched my soul in ways you couldn't imagine.

[@ourlordandsaviorbrendanfra4428]

I see what you did there. . .

[@TheZombieoutbreak]

you are right. i still have not laughed as hard as when i first watched schindlers list

[@1111hami]

We, or I, always think of Colbert as being intellectual. Then a guy like Gladwell comes on and Stephen shows he is a light weight in comparison.

[@sfar024]

I don't think it's level of intellect that differs but tapping into the depths of emotional intelligence that is human in its core

[@jennysmith9591]

They are both pretty damn smart. Stephen is a dazzling performer who often gets laughs at others' expense and, Malcolm Gladwell is an introspective genius who comes across as a much more self-effacing and modest person, and appears a lot more naive in some ways than he actually is. That's how they seem to present themselves, anyway. Who would win the actual smackdown of wits, it's hard to say, but this would be a good matchup for Jake Kalish's "Santa vs. Satan".

[@GreyJedi17]

Revisionist History is so so good!

[@kimberleful]

Im going to listen

[@MsGrapeNehi]

I respectfully disagree with Mr. Gladwell. Books make me cry like nothing else can. To Kill a Mockingbird, Of Mice and Men, and Flowers for Algernon made me cry like a little bitch.

[@Anna-ip8ub]

but it takes a longer time and it take building up and setting up. P.S> I cried too on all these stories.

[@BoxcarBomber]

Just read Flowers For Algernon two months ago; fucked my shit up.

[@rockhero2274]

I agree. I read Caleb Carr's Angel of Darkness. I was sad.

[@slightly_handy2109]

Shantaram

[@nickholmes3371]

Yeah, I'm not sure he really had a chance to get across what he meant there. It is a lot easier to build a connection with someone emotionally when you can hear their voice or see their face. Books can make you cry sure, but not as quickly.

[@JLMac322]

U of T represent!

[@eshepard8565]

Go "state school"! :P He's forgotten how to say Toronto, though. I think he's been away too long.

[@AndrewSmith-vh3gu]

Drama = drama. Comedy = drama + funny. It's extra. It's more. What makes us sad is more universal than what we laugh at, which differs person to person, culture to culture, and depends more on intellect than sadness does.

[@warsilver99]

My favourite author! He's so insightful!

[@jessewarner7962]

This is a really great interview, on both sides.

[@flappycelery]

OK, this grabbed me. I was just scrolling by, listened to 10 seconds and went, "Wait a minute. I gotta check this out!"

[@tebbytee]

I've certainly cried reading books. A lot. Also, I feel like there can been many memorable moments in my life that have been full of laughter as opposed to tears.

[@ilove2929]

HE IS BACK. I AM THRILLED ❤❤❤❤

[@JazzyJonas]

It flew under my radar at first, but the bit where Stephen cried over Malcolm being better at making people cry than he is at making people laugh was brilliant.

[@audretwelch3328]

Stephen would be a great dinner party host

[@philipq6844]

Sadwell's stories make me cry. My favorite book is Outcriers. David and GoCryeth.

[@bossgandy]

Philip Q 🤣

[@astheskylarksings]

man.. Gladwell is getting paid, but he must also have a tough life because it takes so much effort for him to prove the obvious to people. And they also discredit the work he puts in with research. I've never really seen Colbert proven wrong before. Gladwell would be the first--tears are definitely stronger than laughter.

[@amandariviera]

All feelings are valid. The point is to make people FEEL through media; to experience something they wouldn't have otherwise felt. You can cry for a myriad of reasons, it doesn't have to be sorrow or pain, but relief, happiness or just generally feeling overwhelmed with too many emotions at one point. If you can make someone cry (without attacking), it is a very powerful thing. Especially for those of us who have trouble crying.

[@robbiepena6240]

starting to love colbert on late night more and more

[@LopsidedPasta]

I've read all of his books. Some are accurate, some are not. But they're all very entertaining! Great guest!

[@SofaKingThug]

A lot of anecdotal sorta stuff but definitely entertaining.

[@LopsidedPasta]

I wouldn't go that far. All of his books have elements of truth, but you need to filter out the crazier stuff. If you read his material with objectivity then you'll learn a lot without learning crap.

[@samuelcharles6220]

You wouldn't go that far? The video is titled "i just want to explain things to people", and he's constantly explaining them wrong. Gladwell is the worst kind of shill and snake oil salesman, one who knows what he's serving is lies, but he puts them in nice enough packaging to make millions of people less intelligent, instead of just you.

[@astheskylarksings]

name one lie he "serves." all of this criticism, but not one concrete point

[@samuelcharles6220]

www.businessinsider.com/new-study-destroys-malcolm-gladwells-10000-rule-2014-7 Why don't you just google 'Malcolm Gladwell idiot'?

[@kaylaempson5788]

Malcolm Gladwell just explained John Green's genius.

[@smujismuj]

The eyes vs ears theory is pretty thin. Ever see a photo of an injured child? They both can be the medium for strong emotions. Why over simplify things?

[@nancya7289]

I assumed that Gladwell was talking about processing language: reading versus listening.

[@popcorn_TM]

i love this man already!!!

[@Anchony]

Well this interview makes me Glad!

[@DaveToneMusic]

Great interview Stephen!

[@regmunday8354]

Thing is, laughter isn't an emotion: it's a pleasurable experience but it's innately superficial; unlike real, deep, heartfelt emotion.

[@donnagalegilbert]

Very entertaining and interesting.

[@eunheechang920]

As a person innvolved in higher education for a living, his statistic on the IVY league schools and the endowments, that's so spot on just as he always is!

[@michaelchen3565]

Great to hear a bit with content and levity.

[@abishai2010]

I am so glad Mr. Colbert disagreed with the fact that writing does not move people emotionally. This is one other reason (apart from LOTR) I am a fan of Mr. Colbert. Every forum has it's adv and dis-adv but I strongly believe in books and reading, it is one of the most powerful media of moving people. I learn from this video on how to disagree with people gracefully and using humor!!

[@jsgoyburu]

I disagree completely. He even suggested that laughter is not a "real emotion". Laughter is not only powerful. It's freeing

[@stevehines7520]

We surely have developed a societal perception that crying only has negative context. In my personal experience thus far the greatest moments of joy remembered are ones accompanied by tears. Even in the world of humor there is a statement "laugh until you cry" in my memory of laughing so hard that my eyes watered, the topic that started the laughter has long since been forgotten ( yet the fact that these scenarios are usually experienced among the closest of companions is the only relevant thing that remains) these tears that were the result of a deeper emotional connection to human family are the only ones that have been ingrained in my memory to a degree that that the joy of that moment needs no definition save the realization of deeper thread of connection to others.

[@ClareBearBunny]

I was actually rejected from the history PhD programs at Harvard, Yale, and Stanford this month. Now I don't feel so bad.

[@CHallYoung]

Bravo!!!

[@mitchtherevolution]

You think with your eyes and feel with your ears. This is what we consider an intellectual now... Yeah, that makes me want to cry.

[@MrSCRIBR]

Killing it with the Sneans!

[@Zeratul723]

Good interview.

[@xiomanaxoxoxo3212]

Ultimately he is a teacher.

[@VitaminMePlease]

Why do people hate Malcolm Gladwell so much? I'm actually curious, really.

[@jayrama8769]

inaccuracies, he's an interesting dude tho but a lot of the time when making points they are inaccurate, for example i heard him telling a story about david vs goliath and he said a rock would come out of david's slingshot "around 35 meters per second which is substantially faster than the best pitchers in fastball" (loosely quoted) but that 35 meters per second equals about 78 mph and every pitcher in MLB can pitch over 90 mph... I think little things like that make people hate on him, i'll admit myself it makes me question his credibility which is really shouldn't because its a small part of his story, but idk it's human nature i guess when facts are falsely presented

[@Bouncybon]

Jealous of his wealth, probably.

[@nickfromCO]

Didn't know Art Garfunkel was supposed to be on the show.

[@bodybalancer]

Cool! He's a great author!!!! I've read "Blink", which I couldn't put down. I've got The Tipping Point which is also really interesting and good to put down BC it's kind of a compilation of many vignettes or short stories / case examples. Highly recommend picking up any of his works to people!!! 👍✌️✨

[@derekmalaney6945]

More interviews like this.

[@yaldabaoth2]

It's so much better to see Stephen discuss things with intelligent people than to see him pander to actors who have new, crappy movie out.

[@dalicloud9]

His podcast is pretty incredible.

[@beritbranch4949]

the LAST thing we need is a litany of woe

[@pensivenincompoop2016]

Gladwell = greatness

[@wezsoo]

Oh c'mon, Northwestern is PRETTY MUCH an Ivy League, Colbert. Arrrrggghhh.

[@IceColdProfessional]

That's Maclom Gladwell y'all. He's a renowned physicist and wine condessur.

[@goathead4831]

He said cocktail chatter bait. Chaturbate lmao.

[@penname8441]

I had to stop and look away from the screen to make the voice match up because I didn't know what his face looked like and this tripped me out

[@pederheibergsverdrup6073]

He is a bit awkward. Colbert makes it a bit hard for him.

[@mattiafioravanti8475]

I think he refers to this fact on one of Revisionist history's episode.

[@dearthofdoohickeys4703]

Mattia Fioravanti yeah he does, it’s very enlightening.

[@suesheification]

He's not awkward you just have a narrow mind

[@zacharybrooks4169]

HOW?! can u elaborate? he was awesome and so was steven. They played off each other so well. He gave insightful and genuine responses off the cuff. I'd put my money on "you saw his hair and physique and stuffed him into a pigeon hole and checked- out,"

[@RichardAveryiii]

I love this guy!

[@peteradams1588]

I've cried properly in one book...Lonesome Dove when Gus dies...I think he has a point.

[@andymiller5998]

Love the late show!!!

[@rouvee7788]

4:03 we protect ourselves from each other not because we are afraid that people don't want to hear our real feelings but because we are afraid of the judgement we will receive from people we expose ourselves to. humans are constantly and naturally fearful every single day even in our own homes. pause and reflect on it.

[@nozecone]

We protect ourselves from each other because people are dangerous.

[@williamthechang]

Cocktail chatter, Slate Political Gabfest! I see you Stephen Colbert.

[@AimeeRose22]

Shout out to Slate Political Gabfest with 'cocktail chatter!' Love it!

[@carlyflores5564]

did my lang summer packet on one of his books. really made writing the 10 essays about his points/commentaries enjoyable

[@jaduzink]

On Fareed Zakaria, Gladwell just ridiculed the Olympics for holding running events in "equatorial Brazil" in July forgetting that July is winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Brilliant man, right?

[@jamesl9371]

University of Toronto! Yeah

[@JoeCnNd]

I had a connection flight in Toronto and gotta say it's the worst in airports trying to get home. Sorry I hear Toronto and think that. Lol

[@endlessmidnight8912]

I attended one of those well-endowed schools. I used to think the donations were outrageous. Lately, I've come to see the value of gathering together the minds of greatest potential and providing them abundant resources. Besides. some of those billions come from alumni, giving back to their alma mater.

[@Silvana716]

One of the most brilliant contemporary writers.

[@jeremiah817tx]

Wonder why the band went with the song backstabber for his intro.

[@Sankrityayan07]

Like every alternative view, Malcolm Gladwell's are often interesting but also mostly not inaccurate.

[@peterkenjosian1050]

agree, not inaccurate at all.

[@kartikmessner2868]

Pretentious sentence ?

[@sada0101]

This was nice.

[@resonanttotality8322]

When you cry, you then see and understand the reason why you laugh...

[@gpjk4172]

He's a good communicator and popularizer, but if you know anything about the subjects he's covering, Gladwell's books can be painfully tedious. I feel like most of them could be summarized in 10 pages and only lose filler.

[@redlion145]

Not everyone is an economist or game theorist. Like he said, he's writing for a wide audience, he wants "to explain things to people" not write academic focused work.

[@HitomiAyumu]

Irish Identity Exactly.

[@rosadeplata1752]

Um... I cried when Dobby died... In the book. Had to stop reading. Tears were in the way.

[@MizCeeA]

I have cried reading many books, I have laughed while reading others. While I enjoy Mr. Gladwell, I disagree on this point. It is undoubtedly difficult, but it is done with great regularity. NOW, making someone think deeply? That is rare!

[@ClwydEnComu]

When you cry from a book though it's probably because you've spent so many hours invested in a journey. When listening, it can take minutes - seconds even - and you can register subconsciously their emotions in their voices, you relate it immediately to your experiences and mix your own in simultaneously, you empathise with them and cry. But all of that within moments and with no effort, just receiving, not consuming and translating script to words to feelings on your own.

[@nozecone]

Trouble is, Gladwell's train of thought kept getting knocked off the track by Colbert's smart-ass interruptions. He was obviously struggling to try to remember what exactly his point was, the direction of what he had previously said, and exactly what the question had been. In the process, he kind of got himself turned around, and was doing his best to try to salvage an interview that Colbert seemed intent on sabotaging for cheap laughs.

[@ethicalhacker87]

I think its also a culture, thing. In eastern cinema, its much more common for a film to make you cry than laugh. So in our minds there, we 'find' that making someone cry seems to come a lot easier. Here it is sort of the opposite. I see what Gladwell is talking about.

[@cristianrojas4083]

My hero!!!

[@juliet3827]

It's funny that it's never mentioned he's not American. He's Canadian (and born in England.)

[@sellingacoerwa8318]

He lives in New York has since forever and has citizenship so idk what you mean by "not American"

[@genuinelyjag]

5:41 Shoulda gone with "I just want my phone call."

[@rumples584]

This interview was missing something. If I had to pinpoint it, I would say it's missing the 2nd level thought. What I mean is that there is usually the first more obvious line of thinking, and then there is the next step in the train of thought that is less obvious and requires more rigorous mental work. Crying is more impactful than laughter and then what? I've been following his youtube channel "Revisionist History" and I think it does a great job going after the details and the why and the significance and having interesting stories to boot. Granted I know this was an interview on a comedic show, two facts that are contrary to my normal exposure to him in his podcast with a more serious tone. It was cool to see this, just expected even more interesting material from Colbert and Gladwell, two people I believe are very intelligent.

[@g-wm6392]

for the record , Laughing releases dopamine , which makes us feel good , Now i'm not saying we should laugh like a moron at everything , but a genuine good laugh makes the world go round SO QUIT TORTURING YOURSELF . LAUGH AND CLOSE KZbin ALREADY GOD DAMMIT 😂

[@smithsoniansamurai7043]

Yeah, this interview sucked... Colbert completely failed as an interviewer. There is almost no information or creation of interest in the podcast. They spent most of the time in a back and forth about the whole crying/laughing thing.

[@johnclhugyugihjbvgbkj9729]

As the writer of, “Outliers,” you’d think he’d not be a repeater 😄

[@susanfrombflo8368]

Good stuff ;-)

[@fastfoodreviewandelvistoo]

A great mind for our time