by Malcom Gladwell
If you have already read this bestseller I don't know that I can add anything else as a review other than to say I only read one or two nonfiction books a year and I couldn't have chosen better than this one.
All about trends and fads and what creates popularity, it is subtitled How Little Things Make a Big Difference and looks at why some information, behavior or entertainment catches fire and why others dies out.
Gladwell identifies and explores three personalities/roles in society, "The Connector," "The Maven," and "The Salesman" and how each contributes to the promulgation or proliferation of various epidemics. He speculates as to why some trends stay with us while others are gone in a month and throughout the book uses an unusual mix of statistics and information on such varied topics as teenage smoking habits, New York crime, sexually transmitted diseases, Sesame Street, Blue's Clues, and Paul Revere.
If you are a blogger and are interested in promoting your blog this book proves especially interesting as Gladwell describes factors that promote the popularity of one idea over another. What makes one blog/trend/idea catch on while another languishes or fizzles out?
I found it to be fascinating, one of those books which makes you look at everyday things from a new perspective, and I've considered making his next book Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking my token nonfiction for 2007.
Technorati tags: book reviews, non-fiction, Gladwell, epidemics
17 comments:
I will put it on my "To Read" list :)
Both of his books you've mentioned have been on my TBR list, but I just can't get a copy secondhand anywhere, but they look quite interesting, and I don't normally read non-fiction either!
but can it explain string cheese? someone should!
am leaving for - well, a while at least. thanks for being there on the other side of the world,
bec
ps - you were number 10,000!
I'm so glad you mentioned this book--it's such a thought-provoking read.
I read this book and enjoyed it. I thought it was interesting just how much environment causes things to tip for the worse. There was one story about grafitti and the negative changes that just a little bit creates. My school gets tagged several times a year and the district comes out and cleans it all up and repaints within 24 hours no matter how much there is. Now if they would just cheer the place up a bit I am sure accademics would also tip!
My friend Elke loves this book. She says I am a "connector" or something like that (from the book) - some sort of linker of people. Huh?
I thought about promoting my blog, for awhile. Then I decided I didn't want to be popular or known. I feel bad not being able to keep up with commenters and such. I'm just not cut out for the Big Time.
I've heard great things about this book as well, and I've been meaning to get a copy of it myself. One of these days...
In any case, your positive review has convinced me even further than it is a must-read! Thanks.
The information in this books sounds so much like a presentation I attended in college that turned out to be very interesting. I may have to check this book out. Thanks for the review.
This sounds like it would interest both my husband and me. Next stop: my local library web site!
That was a great review Michelle! I don't do "non fiction" either but the hubbie got this while on a business trip and I got hooked reading it. Very fascinating book, and now I do know what they mean by the "Kevin Bacon" effect.
Please let us know how Blink is when you're done. I'd love to pick it up too, but that's also a "non fiction".
Thanks for the book rec! I've read Blink and found it to be fascinating. Once you read it, you'll find yourself "thin slicing" everything!
I loved Blink. It changed your whole view on things.
That does sound interesting. Will put it on my list, as well as Blink.
i've heard such good things about this book - now i know i shall have to check it out.
Thanks. I like the idea of reading it with blogging in mind. Now if I can only get it back from the friend I lent it to...
I loved Blink. There's a review of it on my blog. The Tipping Point started my journey with the inspirational/leadership writers (Tim Sanders, Seth Godin, Malcolm Gladwell)
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