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The author of this article is writing for the casual reader of Gladwell's book who comes away thinking they have learned some history. That person may weigh their enjoyment of the story more or less strongly against whether it says something true about history, so may or may not appreciate Gladwell's emphasis. Either way, this article allows them to put the story better into the context of the history it purports to describe.

He clearly presents his stories in a manner that makes it easy to mistake them for the whole truth, though. I find this kind of excuse pretty thin coming from anyone more serious in tone than, like, Jon Stewart.

Ugh. I have enjoyed Malcolm Gladwell's writing in the past, but this smacks of the Tucker Carlson defense.

that’s great and all but it’s irressponsible and he should be stopped. confessing that you’re a hack scam artist is not a defense.