Tipping Point Book Review

Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point "is a biography of an idea," (pg. 7). It dives into the compelling phenomenon of how certain trends catch on and gain so much prevalence, while others do not. As Gladwell says, "ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread just like viruses do," (pg. 7). Furthermore, the book explains how products and ideas reach such prominence within society.

Gladwell provides an in-depth analysis of how these specific trends gain so much attraction as he categorizes his "Three Epidemics" into agents of change: the Law of Few, the Stickiness Factor and the Power of Context. 

The Law Few is straight-forward. Products and ideas gain national or global attention because of a few celebrities or influencers partake or use the product or idea. As Gladwell explains, these icons are either Connectors, Mavens or Salesmen. This was a very informative section. I especially appreciated his section of Connectors. As the author elaborates, "This is what Connectors are like. They are the Rod Steigers of everyday life. They are people whom all of us can reach in only a few steps because, for one reason or another, they manage to occupy many different worlds and subcultures and niches," (pg. 38). 

However, I think the most critical rule is the second epidemic: the Stickiness Factor. Products and Ideas resonate with people and thus become a trend. While there is no explicit rule on how to make something go viral, it's an important concept to understand. If a businessperson and blogger wanted to go viral, this would critical for them to succeed. As someone who is pursuing a career in sports media, I want to make sure potential employers see my content is memorable. I plan to use this chapter to enhance myself to hopefully stick into employer's minds.

Lastly, Gladwell closes the book with the chapter entitled, "Focus, Test, Believe," and I believe this was the most inspirational chapter in the entire book. Many times, we find ourselves looking for a temporary fix... basically putting a Band-Aid over the problem instead of taking the time to figure out a long-term solution. 

I really enjoyed reading this book. Gladwell is a great storyteller who kept this book engaging and inspirational. While this book is targeted towards businessmen, the truth and lessons taught on this book transcend to so many career paths. As technology and social media continue to progress, it is important that people put their products and ideas in the best position to gain attraction and recognition.