The Tipping Point How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

We live in a world where our voices must be heard in order to succeed. Businesses, restaurants and politicians compete for the best primetime advertising spot on television and for the back cover of magazines to spread the word about their products and services. On a smaller scale, each and every one of us is trying to “spread the word” about something, whether it is about the store...more

We live in a world where our voices must be heard in order to succeed. Businesses, restaurants and politicians compete for the best primetime advertising spot on television and for the back cover of magazines to spread the word about their products and services. On a smaller scale, each and every one of us is trying to “spread the word” about something, whether it is about the store that has the best sale prices or the restaurant that serves the best food. Regardless of your walk in life, there will come a time when it is important to know how to effectively communicate your position on a certain issue. If you want to be prepared, read Malcolm Gladwell's book, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference. In this book, Gladwell explores concepts such as “The Stickiness Factor,” “The Power of Context” and “The Law of the Few,” which form the basis for powerful communication. While the topic of this book is nonfiction and based heavily on years of research, Gladwell's presentation of the information is nothing like that of a typical textbook. Although Gladwell uses technical terms and introduces several laws and theories throughout the book, his interjects, interviews and examples make this book enjoyable to read and easy to understand. This Number One National Bestseller will definitely leave you feeling more confident in your ability to communicate. (C) 2007 Benjamin Szweda. As on http://www.balancedlivingmag.com/2007/May%20-%20June%2007/Book%20Reviews%200407.htm   hide

This book introduced me to the Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE) term which is something I 've always believed in long before I knew the term.. i.e: you can never say that Tom would never do something bad because he is a nice person, you have to look at the situation, it is always "people in situations". The second thing that is interesting is the "peer...more

This book introduced me to the Fundamental Attribution Error (FAE) term which is something I 've always believed in long before I knew the term.. i.e: you can never say that Tom would never do something bad because he is a nice person, you have to look at the situation, it is always "people in situations". The second thing that is interesting is the "peer pressure", which claims to have much more power than the concept of a boss!. Another was the "influence of peers", which, in my opinion, is balanced with the influence of the family. I totally agree with the "permission givers" or the "contagiousness" idea and I might even say that it is not necessarily has to be practiced in reality in order to spread.. I remember once reading about the novel ( the sorrows of young werther) by Goethe in the 1770's, where the book ends in young werther shooting himself when he can't have the woman he loves.. the suicide rates rose after the publication of the novel, and for a time the book was actually BANNED in Denmark and Norway! Overall, this is a very well written book that gets more interesting page after another.   hide

This book provides a splendid insight to how epidemics spread. Connectors, Mavens and Salesmen. These special individuals wield the power to change the destiny of human kind by exercising their social prowess, vast knowledge and indomitable charisma. Throw in a sticky message under the right context, the world shall bear witness to a potent brew of epidemic of epic proportions! This book is a...more

This book provides a splendid insight to how epidemics spread. Connectors, Mavens and Salesmen. These special individuals wield the power to change the destiny of human kind by exercising their social prowess, vast knowledge and indomitable charisma. Throw in a sticky message under the right context, the world shall bear witness to a potent brew of epidemic of epic proportions! This book is a fabulous blend of astounding real life stories and mind boggling psychology theories. Readers will be buffeted by endless psychiatric analysis. The “power of stickiness” chapter should be riveting enough to pique the interest of the most sceptical “know-it-all” marketing gurus. Entertainment Value: 7/10 Educational Value: 8/10 Overall: 7.5/10   hide

The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire. Just as a single sick person can start an epidemic of the flu, so too can a small but precisely targeted push cause a fashion trend, the popularity of a new product, or a drop in the crime rate. This widely acclaimed bestseller, in which Malcolm Gladwell explores...more

The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire. Just as a single sick person can start an epidemic of the flu, so too can a small but precisely targeted push cause a fashion trend, the popularity of a new product, or a drop in the crime rate. This widely acclaimed bestseller, in which Malcolm Gladwell explores and brilliantly illuminates the tipping point phenomenon, is already changing the way people throughout the world think about selling products and disseminating ideas.   hide

Honestly, this book is interesting, but like Freakonomics, it's a whole lot about nothing. You can prove anything you want with a couple case studies going your way, but it doens't make x cause y. I really do think Hushpupppies popularity in the late nineties was a fluke. And no one is wearing them now. *Update* Scientists Agree!!Cool ConspiracyPosted Sun. Feb. 10, 2008 10:26am by Page Six Filed...more

Honestly, this book is interesting, but like Freakonomics, it's a whole lot about nothing. You can prove anything you want with a couple case studies going your way, but it doens't make x cause y. I really do think Hushpupppies popularity in the late nineties was a fluke. And no one is wearing them now. *Update* Scientists Agree!!Cool ConspiracyPosted Sun. Feb. 10, 2008 10:26am by Page Six Filed Under Duncan Watts, Fresh Ink, Malcolm Gladwell WRITER and social examiner Malcolm Gladwell cashed in on his book "The Tipping Point" — but scientist Duncan Watts claims his readers were duped. Fast Company reports Duncan used "computer models of rumor spreading" to test Gladwell's thesis that influential members of society popularize trends and products. According to the magazine, Duncan's research "found that your average slob is just as likely as a well-connected person to start a huge new trend." Duncan said, "A rare bunch of cool people just don't have that power. And when you test the way marketers say the world works, it falls apart." Waste of time. I can write theories and present useless data for any topic to make any point.   hide

I found this book to be more compelling than "Outliers." It follows a more varied narrative path (as opposed to Outliers' singular focus that Gladwell beat you over the head with). This book explores the main reasons why products and ideas pass the "tipping point," the point when they explode in popularity and into the public consciousness. Even though the book was written in the year 2000, I...more

I found this book to be more compelling than "Outliers." It follows a more varied narrative path (as opposed to Outliers' singular focus that Gladwell beat you over the head with). This book explores the main reasons why products and ideas pass the "tipping point," the point when they explode in popularity and into the public consciousness. Even though the book was written in the year 2000, I kept thinking that it is probably even more relevant in today's age of Twitter, Youtube, and things "going viral." This book is probably most useful to people in the marketing industry, but it was an extremely interesting and captivating read nonetheless.   hide

Although it is a solid triple, Gladwell doesn't quite hit the home run he did with next book "Outliers." Using interesting case studies, he discusses the role of Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen in sparking fads and social epidemics such as the resurgence of Hush Puppy shoes in the late 19990's. As I was reading the chapters on Mavens, I recognized that he was perfectly...more

Although it is a solid triple, Gladwell doesn't quite hit the home run he did with next book "Outliers." Using interesting case studies, he discusses the role of Connectors, Mavens, and Salesmen in sparking fads and social epidemics such as the resurgence of Hush Puppy shoes in the late 19990's. As I was reading the chapters on Mavens, I recognized that he was perfectly describing me. Yes, as a matter of fact, I HAVE written several letters to Consumer Reports to correct them! As with "Outliers", what I love about "The Tipping Point" is that the author uses analysis to look at the world around us in a new and unique way. From determining the reason why Paul Revere was successful on his midnight ride to investigating what works and what doesn't in anti-smoking programs, this is a book for anyone who would rather use their brain instead of their heart when trying to solve the world's most stubborn problems. Bottom line: If you liked "Outliers," you will like this book and vice versa.   hide

Overall, this is a good read. It made me think sometimes little things do make a difference. Although I would challenge some of his arguments, particularly how HushPuppies became famous, but I could understand how the Broken Windows Theory is contributing to the public safety. Just for this, the book should be made a compulsory reading for all police officers in Malaysia! An interesting read...more

Overall, this is a good read. It made me think sometimes little things do make a difference. Although I would challenge some of his arguments, particularly how HushPuppies became famous, but I could understand how the Broken Windows Theory is contributing to the public safety. Just for this, the book should be made a compulsory reading for all police officers in Malaysia! An interesting read showing how participation from the messes gives a product or services its wide popularity and acceptance. This can be a book, website or brand of shoe. The application of this theory or hypothesis could be widespread. Could Facebook be one of those runaway successes based on Malcolm's Tipping Point principles? Definitely! Young and old are hopping the great bandwagon to find new ways of interactions with their friends.   hide

Malcolm Gladwell takes some time to make his point in this book but you'll forgive a little meandering because it's so enjoyable. His case studies are informed by interesting psychological experiments and diverse real life happenings. You'll learn some things you didn't know about Sesame St in their quest for mass education via the popular medium of television, enter the down and out world of...more

Malcolm Gladwell takes some time to make his point in this book but you'll forgive a little meandering because it's so enjoyable. His case studies are informed by interesting psychological experiments and diverse real life happenings. You'll learn some things you didn't know about Sesame St in their quest for mass education via the popular medium of television, enter the down and out world of crime and intrigue in New York of the 90s where murder is seen as a heroic act of subversion, and discover why Hush Puppies rocketed from grandma kitch to retro cool. Through these diverse case studies, and more, you'll learn about how the right message in the right place at the right time is crucial. It's not rocket science, but it's far more interesting a read than any business marketing text and you'll probably walk away with the same concepts in mind as someone who'd struggled through the latter kind of book.   hide