The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
The Tipping Point succinctly explains how three “agents of change”- the law of the few, the stickiness factor, and the power of context- work together to cause a particular product or idea to “tip” (become incredibly popular) among the general public. Gladwell explains how particular types of people (the law of the few) become powerful agents in propelling the popularity of products/ideas. Connectors know large numbers of people and have a knack for bringing people together. Mavens are the people we rely on to always know the latest and greatest information. And Salesmen are the negotiators who convince others to agree with them. The right combination of these three types of people can result in a widespread awareness of a new product. The stickiness factor is the message associated with the product that helps it to “stick” with the consumer, allowing it to stay in the minds of the buyers. Finally, the context- conditions and circumstances- surrounding the release of a product or idea will also affect the rise of its popularity.
Gladwell uses many specific examples to reinforce his theories. Especially interesting to me were his explanations of the rise in popularity of the children’s television show Blues Clues as it compared to Sesame Street in the chapter on the stickiness factor. It explained how small children pay attention not to flashes and movement but rather to what they understand. I was also fascinated by the study on the steep drop in the crime rate in New York City in the 1990s. It illustrated how the power of context (i.e. your environment) is more significant than much else, and this knowledge can help us change things to avoid criminal activity. Peer and community influence are just as important (maybe more) than family influence in how children turn out. "Studies of juvenile delinquincy and high school drop-out rates, for example, demonstrate that a child is better off in a good neighborhood and a troubled family than he or she is in a troubled neighborhood and a good family... children are powerfully shaped by their external environment." There was also a very interesting study on honesty discussed on pages 157-9 that is worth mentioning.
I found this book to be a fascinating study about a topic I never knew I was interested in. I look forward to reading more books by Malcolm Gladwell.
