Well, for one he picks topics that are always interesting to read about. The studies he finds about the workings of the human mind are just amazing. For example, he found one experiment that set to find out how good a person can really be. By good, this study meant people willing to help others in emergencies.
They completed the experiment by going to a propionate seminary school and used the students as the subjects. What they did was quite interesting. First, they split the students into two groups. The first group was told that they would give a speech on why they chose to study religion. The second group was told to re-read the bible famous story "The Good Samaritan" and then give a speech on the same subject. Then, the researchers told half the students in each group they had plenty of time to make it to the auditorium they would speak in. They told the other halves of each group that they had no time and in fact were late. Along the way, each student would encounter an actor playing deathly harmed person. As the student passed, the actor would moan, groan, and make just about any noise to cause worry.
By doing this the researchers found that the only factor that predicted whether or not someone would help a dying person was time. If a student, one who had just re-read the story of a "Good Samaritan", was late to their speech, they would ignore the dying person. No matter that they on their way to talk about helping others. Time did not allow them to help. But, if they did happen to have the time, they would. This study and others is why I like Gladwell. He finds and explains well the things about human nature we all would like to know.
