Gladwell introduces the story of David and Goliath. The Israelites and Philistines had been at war and were deadlocked. The Philistines sent the giant Goliath as their champion. If he could beat the champion of the Israelites in combat, Israel would surrender and become slaves. A young boy named David agreed to fight Goliath even though the other warriors were terrified of the giant’s size and strength. The primary idea of Gladwell’s project is this: “David and Goliath is a book about what happens when ordinary people confront giants. By ‘giants,’ I mean powerful opponents of all kinds” (5). Each chapter will tell the story of a person who faced a Goliath.

There are two central ideas. The first is that “the act of facing overwhelming odds produces greatness and beauty” (5). The second is that these conflicts are frequently misinterpreted, so the lessons they could teach are often lost. The book serves as a guide to facing giants and thereby gaining a more accurate understanding of strengths and weaknesses.

Goliath expected the battle to be fought on his own terms. He prepared for another warrior like himself, adorning himself in heavy armor and carrying a sword and spear.