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Opinion
From Library Staff
From Library Staff
Why did crime in New York drop in the mid-90s? Why is teenage smoking out of control? Why are television shows like Sesame Street good at teaching kids how to read? In The tipping point, New Yorker writer Malcolm Gladwell, looks at why major changes in society happen suddenly and unexpectedly. Th... Read More »
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Add a Quote"What must underlie successful epidemics, in the end, is a bedrock belief that change is possible, that people can radically transform their behaviour or beliefs in the face of the right kind of impetus. This, too, contradicts some of the most ingrained assumptions we hold about ourselves and each other. We like to think that who we are and how we act is something permanently set by our genes and our temperament...We are actually powerfully influence by our surroudings, our immediate context, and the personalities of those around us." pg 258-259
racing14
May 01, 2011
''The Tipping Point,'' by Malcolm Gladwell, is a lively, timely and engaging study of fads. Some of those he writes about fit snugly into the long tradition of crowd behavior: out-of-fashion Hush Puppies resurged into popularity in 1994 and '95; teenagers, despite repeated health warnings, continue to smoke and in the past few years have been doing so in increasing numbers; and in 1998 a book called ''Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood'' reached a sales mark of two and a half million copies. Some of the other phenomena analyzed by Gladwell are a bit more unusual, including the decline in crime in New York City that began under Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani. But all of them can be taken as examples of how unpredictable people can be when they find themselves in the throes of doing what everyone else is doing at the same time. - The New York Times
Comment
Add a CommentGladwell takes a lot of heat as pop science author. The reputation may or may not be earned. But in 'The Tipping Point' he has done something very useful for people seeking practical ways to generate momentum or get themselves or their projects unstuck. Gladwell's book looks for points of leverage in the process through which an idea spreads and takes hold within culture. Gladwell is trying to find the most broad reaching and consistently useful points of leverage so that people attempting to create social change can use them as ready made tools of change. Is the book a deep read, no it is not. It is deliberately shallow on everything that it looks at, this is intentional. 'The Tipping Point' is not deep because it is broad- and the reasons for such a difference in approach are perfectly valid given Gladwell's intent in writing the book.
This quick and interesting read is a good example of the many pop sociology books out there explaining why we do the things we do and adopt the fads we do. Much of it seemed to be intuitive but was presented in a very clear and attention-grabbing way. Gladwell may offend academics but he does bring new ways of thinking to the masses, and we can always use different insights.
This book contains servers great ideas to use in any setting.
This book is loaded with pseudo-scientific drivel. Save your time and brain cells; find other books on this topic like "Contagious Why Thing Catch On" or "Made To Stick".
I agree with the comment below, "Interesting theory, but a bit repetitive in the telling". Some parts dragged on. Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt was a much better read.
Very useful in drawing our attention to the ways in which ideas catch on and take flight.
once read, the premise is seen every day
Great read for community leaders and business professionals. If you liked this, check out Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip and Dan Heath and Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger.
Great read for community leaders and business professionals. If you liked this, check out Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die by Chip and Dan Heath and Contagious: Why Things Catch On by Jonah Berger.
Good book. Very insightful. Interesting look from a different perspective. Gets a little repetitive towards the end.