August 6, 2001
The Tipping Point
Are you a Maven or a Connector? The Tipping Point is about epidemics; how things spread across a population, from the flu to casual shoes. Malcolm Gladwell explores why some fashion trends become worldwide fads while some languish in obscurity. There is a fantastic chapter which compares the educational principles behind Sesame Street and Blue's Clues that every parent should read. The Tipping Point lacks hard scientific explanation and metrics, but it's rife with warm, fuzzy anecdotes. It's a fast and enjoyable read that will leave you with a lot of great party stories;
"Hey - do you want to know about the seasonal spread of syphillis?" This is trashy beach reading for the modern intellectual. The most valuable take-away concept from this book is that small actions can influence larger movements. "Look at the world around you. It may seem like an immovable, implacable place. It is not. With the slightest push - in just the right place - it can be tipped."