The Great Gatsby

In my personal experience, first impressions are often incorrect. While I was reading Nick’s description of Gatsby, I got the sense that he was, in one way or another, too good to be true. It seems to me that “people skills” go a long way in getting what you want out of life and I have the feeling that Gatsby might be putting off this air mostly for his own benefit, and not because he is this genuine and caring person Nick perceives him as. (This reminds me of the book title, How to Win Friends and Influence People.)
I think we as readers can also learn some things about Nick through his description of Gatsby. Maybe Nick feels insecure and out of place in this new location and this new phase of his life, and having someone like Gatsby befriend and take an interest in him makes him feel a little bit better about himself. I can see how it might make him feel more secure to have someone with Gatsby’s reputation take an interest in him. Maybe the reputation of Gatsby gives him these good initial thoughts of Gatsby, more than the actual person Gatsby gives him these impressions.
It will be interesting to see how these initial perceptions develop and change throughout the book.