Know Thyself takes up the search for the guests’ ancestries where the historical record leaves off and links their distinctive family histories to the broader history of “the family of man.”

Malcolm Gladwell discusses his upbringing as the child of English and Jamaican parents, and his own awareness of racial differences.

Malcolm Gladwell relates the reactions of his English and Jamaican grandparents to his parents' interracial marriage.

Malcolm Gladwell talks about the variations in race and "skin politics" in Jamaica and America among West Indians and African Americans.

Malcolm Gladwell and Henry Louis Gates Jr. discuss why family trees continue to be important, and how family history affects us today.

Malcolm Gladwell and Henry Louis Gates, Jr. discuss the factors that inform our identity — is it our experiences, our family history, society, or a combination of the three?

Malcolm Gladwell is the author of four New York Times bestsellers: "The Tipping Point: How Little Things Make a Big Difference" (2000), "Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking" (2005), "Outliers: The Story of Success" (2008) and “What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures” (2009).