# The Big Man Can't Shoot [The Big Man Can't Shoot](https://www.pushkin.fm/episode/the-big-man-cant-shoot/) is a [[Revisionist History]] episode that shows that [[Conservatism Stymies Progress]]. It's a story of a famous basketball player Wilt Chamberlain who fixed his greatest flaw, not being able to shoot free throws, by shooting 'underhanded'. The problem? That technique is frowned upon, and Chamberlain was ridiculed for shooting like a 'sissy'. He went back to the traditional method, and his performance took a dismal hit. Gladwell uses Chamberlain's story to question conservatism and how what people think of us often negatively impacts our decisions. His message? Screw what people think. [[Malcolm Gladwell's 12 Rules for Life]] is an episode on the same topic.