The Tipping Point’s Back-of-book Description:

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.

My Thoughts

This book has been around for quite a while – since about 2000 I believe, But … I haven’t always been a big fan of nonfiction. And I figure there are other people out there who are in the same boat. So even though this isn’t even remotely a new book, it was new to me.

I picked up The Tipping Point shortly after I read and fell in love with a different Gladwell book, Outliers. That one was so fascinating that I figured all of his others had to be equally as good.

I wasn’t wrong – it was good – though, I will admit not quite as interesting to me as Outliers. But that could just be a matter of preference for the subject being discussed. While Outliers was the story of why and how people became successful, The Tipping Point was about why and how products become so successful.

Gladwell talks about the idea that products (TV shows, footwear, etc.) and social behaviors (such as crime) become ‘epidemics’ for a few key reasons and that those reasons can be controlled and reproduced. He also introduced the notion that three types of people are responsible for epidemics – Mavens, Connectors, and Salesmen.

Mavens are the people who do a lot of research and know a lot of information about a particular thing. Connectors are the people who know everyone, who run in multiple social circles and can comfortably talk to a variety of different people. Salesmen are the ones who are really good at persuading people to try something.

Gladwell suggests that with the right mavens, connectors, and salesmen, any product or social behavior can become and epidemic.

It would have been interesting to read his thoughts on how this ties into the world of social media because I imagine that changes things slightly. But still, it was really interesting. I particularly liked the broken windows theory and how it was used to clean up neighborhoods experiencing high crime.

There was also an interesting section about Sesame Street and Blues Clues and how those became so popular with children.

The wealth of information in The Tipping Point is so fascinating. And honestly, for a nonfiction writer, he really knows how to grab and hold onto the reader’s attention, no matter what the subject matter is.

I will continue to read his books for as long as he continues to write them, no matter what they’re about.

I will continue to read his books for as long as he continues to write them, no matter what they're about. Click To Tweet

Favorite Quotes From The Tipping Point

“The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.”  

 

“A book… is a living and breathing document that grows richer with each new reading.”

“We imitate each other’s emotions as a way of expressing support and caring and, even more basically, as a way of communicating with each other.”  

“Economists often talk about the 80/20 Principle, which is the idea that in any situation roughly 80 percent of the “work” will be done by 20 percent of the participants.”

In Conclusion

4 stars. Overall I think that The Tipping Point was a wonderful nonfiction read with a lot of interesting information about how and why things become so popular.

I think it would be a great read for people who are starting a new business, or entrepreneurs who are looking for sales tips. It’s also great for people who are always finding the next new trend, or those interested in sociology or psychology. It would definitely be an awesome gift!

A great read for people starting a new business, or entrepreneurs looking for sales tips! Click To Tweet

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