Revisionist History Highlights Malcolm Gladwell’s Journey through the Overlooked and Misunderstood Events of the Past

By: Nirnaya Senthil Kumar

Malcolm Gladwell’s reputation in literature precedes him. Even if you don’t know him, you definitely have heard of his most popular books: Outliers and Talking to Strangers. He focuses on exploring psychological reasons for everyday phenomena that go unnoticed. His books are concise and informational, often delivered in a quirky and entertaining manner. They are easy to digest “airport” books; a safe gift for a family member, a surface-level read. If you are looking for an in-depth analysis, then Gladwell isn’t for you. This style has made him immensely successful in narrative nonfiction, but how does it hold up in the podcast space?

Revisionist History was produced by Pushkin and first aired on June 3, 2016. It has now been running for 8 seasons as of 2025. Episodes are not released on a schedule, but rather periodically for each “mini-series.” Each episode runs for about 30-45 minutes, with some lasting less or more as well. The podcast is more unstructured than other historical ones, which adds to why it distinctively appeals to a younger audience. It is available on all streaming platforms, but the main channel is through Spotify. Malcolm Gladwell serves as the host for Revisionist History; however, certain episodes welcome other guest hosts based on their expertise on the episode’s topic. 

Much like Gladwell’s books, Revisionist History focuses on those pieces of history that society has forgotten about. His storytelling is sharp and clear, in his typical style, and he excels at mentioning the most important details while disregarding those that may confuse an amateur listener. This results in a podcast that is easy to understand while still conveying the main facts. While it is again not a deep dive, it definitely scratches more than the surface. It’s comparable to a high school or early college level listen, it maintains being both educational and engaging for the everyday listener. 

You may be asking, what is different about Gladwell’s books versus Revisionist History, then? If his stylistic choices and general topics are similar, then why did he expand to a podcast? For a writer like Gladwell, who obviously prioritizes clarity and coherence, a podcast is actually the ideal medium to deliver his work. This is because podcasts are very accessible in more ways than one. They can be listened to while you commute to work, take a shower, or go on a walk. They are available on various platforms. And most importantly, they offer that sense of intimacy and conversation that makes them much more graspable than words on a page. Podcasts are also able to stay more relevant; books are frozen in the time they were released, but podcasts are constantly evolving, and each episode is more relevant than the last. This allows Gladwell to not only highlight historical events, but also connect them to their modern counterparts. Podcasts generally align perfectly with Gladwell’s reputation for comprehensible journalism, which makes the progression from writing to Revisionist History feel natural. 

Overall, Revisionist History maintains Malcolm Gladwell’s brand of digestible narratives on overlooked phenomena. It connects the past to the present, and uses basic social psychology to do so. Gladwell’s analysis remains simple and clear on his podcast, much like his books. While he often only addresses the tip of the iceberg on topics, the delivery is engaging and keeps everyday listeners coming back for more. In the end, Revisionist History is still testament as to why Malcolm Gladwell remains one of the most celebrated writers in journalism.