Malcom Gladwell

I read a lot of articles, but I'm certainly no expert on journalism or even good writing. Having said that, I am captivated every time I read something by Malcolm Gladwell. (His book, The Tipping Point, is a classic and ought to be a mandatory text for every marketer.)

Gladwell's latest piece posted on his web site is fantastic. It's about plagiarism, and it's written from multiple perspectives simultaneously -- at least that's the best I can explain it. In this story I learned a lot about intellectual property law, the creative process and the minds of serial killers. Yes, all that in an article that's ultimately about plagiarism.

I guess what I like the most is that when I finish reading something that Gladwell writes, I feel like I learned something valuable without being burdened by having to decide whether there was something in the story with which I had to agree or disagree. First and foremost, the guy imparts observations and knowledge. How refreshing.