If you enjoy reading novels by Malcolm Gladwell then you might also like the following authors:
Michael Lewis writes about fascinating real-world subjects, often focusing on how systems work and the people who shape them. His book “The Big Short” dives into the events leading up to the 2008 financial crisis.
It explores the stories of a few outsiders who saw the housing bubble for what it was and decided to bet against it.
Lewis introduces you to quirky characters, like a doctor-turned-investor and a hedge fund manager with one functioning eye, showing how they uncovered a system filled with greed and ignorance.
The result is a sharp look at how a few individuals challenged the norms and profited in the chaos.
Daniel Kahneman is a psychologist who explores how people think and make decisions. His book, “Thinking, Fast and Slow,” dives into the two systems that drive our thinking: one that’s quick and automatic, and another that’s slower and more deliberate.
Kahneman explains how these systems influence everything from everyday choices to major decisions. One example from the book looks at how people often misjudge probabilities or risks, leading to mistakes in judgment.
It’s a fascinating look at the invisible processes shaping our thoughts and behavior.
Ben Goldacre is a doctor and writer who enjoys breaking down complex topics in a way that feels approachable. In his book, “Bad Science,” he explores how misinformation spreads in the worlds of medicine and science.
He digs into things like bogus health fads, media misrepresentations, and quack cures, showing how they take hold and why they persist. One memorable section focuses on vitamin sellers pushing cures that have no proper evidence.
He also explains why the placebo effect matters more than people realize. It’s a book full of real-world examples that make you question the claims we see all the time. If Malcolm Gladwell’s stories about hidden truths caught your attention, this might be a great pick for you.
Adam Grant is an organizational psychologist and a writer who looks at work, motivation, and how people relate to each other. His book, “Give and Take,” explores how success isn’t just about hard work or talent.
He introduces the idea of givers, takers, and matchers, showing how being generous can lead to long-term success. He shares stories about people who lift others up and still manage to thrive, like a venture capitalist who helps startups without asking for anything in return.
It’s packed with examples that show how generosity can play a role in careers and personal growth.
Steven Pinker is a cognitive psychologist and writer who dives deep into how the mind works and how society evolves. One of his books, “The Better Angels of Our Nature,” looks at the history of violence and explains why the world is less violent today than ever before.
Pinker uses history, psychology, and statistics to show how humanity has moved toward peace over the centuries. He discusses events like the abolition of slavery and reforms in criminal justice, adding layers of context to his arguments.
It’s the kind of book that makes you stop and rethink what you thought you knew about human progress.
Charles Duhigg is a journalist and author who explores human behavior and the science behind our habits in engaging and straightforward ways. His book, “The Power of Habit,” looks at how habits work and how they shape our lives.
He explains how small changes can lead to big transformations, pointing to real-life examples like how companies design products to tap into routines or how athletes train their minds as much as their bodies.
One of the most interesting parts is when he breaks down why certain businesses succeed by focusing on keystone habits—those patterns that create a ripple effect in other parts of life. Fans of stories that connect ideas and real-world examples will find it fascinating.
Jonah Berger is a professor and author who writes about what drives human behavior and decision-making. One of his books, “Contagious: Why Things Catch On,” explores why some ideas, products, and content gain massive attention while others fade away.
He breaks it down into clear steps, using examples like how a quirky $100 cheesesteak became the talk of the town or why people started sharing a blender video.
His writing isn’t heavy or dry—it’s packed with stories that make you stop and think about why people act the way they do. If you’re curious about cultural trends or the science behind why things go viral, Berger’s work has some interesting answers.
James Clear is the author of “Atomic Habits,” a book that explores how small, everyday changes can lead to significant improvements over time. He breaks down the process of habit formation, showing how tiny actions, repeated consistently, shape who we become.
The book shares stories and examples, like how the British cycling team transformed themselves by focusing on marginal gains. Clear explains how tweaking your environment or routine can make habits easier to build or break.
It’s an accessible and straightforward read that focuses on practical steps. Fans of Malcolm Gladwell might enjoy Clear’s way of using relatable stories to explain human behavior.
Dan Ariely is a behavioral economist who writes about how people make decisions, often in ways that don’t seem logical. One of his books, “Predictably Irrational”, explores how hidden forces shape choices in everyday life.
For example, he looks at why we overvalue things we own or why we sometimes choose options that aren’t really good for us. He backs it all up with experiments that reveal how our minds work, showing readers how they might recognize these patterns in their own lives.
Atul Gawande is a surgeon and author who writes about medicine, human behavior, and how systems can fail or succeed. In his book “The Checklist Manifesto”, he looks at how simple checklists can save lives in fields like healthcare and aviation.
One moment that stands out is when he talks about a checklist used in hospitals to reduce infections from central lines. By following a few clear steps, doctors and nurses cut the infection rate almost to zero.
The book shows how powerful small changes can be when they are done right. It’s the kind of book that makes you see everyday tasks in a new way.
Nassim Nicholas Taleb is a thinker and writer who blends ideas from philosophy, mathematics, and real-world experience. His book, “The Black Swan,” focuses on rare, unpredictable events that have a big impact on the world.
Taleb explores how people fail to see these events coming and why they often try to explain them after the fact. He uses examples from history, finance, and science to show how randomness shapes everything around us.
One memorable part of the book is his discussion about how innovations like the internet or major historical shifts often come from unexpected places.
Clayton M. Christensen was an influential thinker in the world of business and innovation. His book, “The Innovator’s Dilemma,” explores why successful companies often fail when faced with disruptive technologies.
He explains how businesses that focus on perfecting their current products sometimes miss out on opportunities to adapt or innovate.
One of the striking ideas in the book is how smaller, less obvious innovations can outpace industry leaders because these leaders overlook them, believing they won’t matter.
For example, Christensen discusses how disk drive manufacturers in the 1980s ignored emerging, smaller drives, which soon became the standard. It’s an eye-opener for understanding business and change in unpredictable markets.
Yuval Noah Harari is a historian who explores big ideas about humanity and our past. In his book “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind,” he walks through how humans evolved from insignificant foragers into the dominant species on Earth.
The book covers how key inventions like agriculture and written language shaped society. It also examines the way myths and shared beliefs, like religion and money, have helped humans cooperate in large groups.
Harari explains these concepts in a way that’s easy to follow, offering stories about early civilizations and the shifts that led to the world we know today.
Chip Heath is a professor and author who focuses on why some ideas stick while others fade. In his book “Made to Stick,” written with his brother Dan Heath, he explores what makes ideas memorable and impactful.
Through real-world examples, the book uncovers how some messages grab attention and stay with people long after they’ve heard them.
One of the stories in the book explains how urban legends spread because they tap into curiosity or fear, showing how these traits can be used to craft unforgettable ideas. It’s thought-provoking and packed with insights.
Richard H. Thaler is an economist who writes about the quirks in human decision-making and how they affect our everyday lives.
In his book “Nudge,” written with Cass R. Sunstein, he explores how small changes in the way choices are presented can influence decisions in surprising ways.
For example, he explains how arranging healthy foods at eye level in a cafeteria can lead people to make better dietary choices without restricting their options.
It’s packed with real-world examples like retirement savings plans and organ donation policies that show how thoughtful design can lead to better outcomes.