The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

I know Malcolm Gladwell has a few good books out there. I've just never thought the topics were all that interesting. I'm not sure what really stood out when I picked up The Tipping Point. After reading it, I can say for sure that I am going to read more of Gladwell's books.

The Tipping Point is based on a simple concept. It's the point where an idea, trend or epidemic turns from being nothing into an overnight sensation, spreading like fire. It seems simple, but the author digs into how and why things "tip". He breaks it down to three things: the law of the few, the stickiness factor, and the power of context. The law of the few is that there are a certain few who can influence the majority. The stickiness factor is that there needs to be something about the trend that makes an impact and sticks in your mind. The power of context is about the environment when the few deliver that sticky message. The author goes incredibly deep on these three pieces.

This may not seem all that revolutionary. The book was written more than a decade ago, but even without the book you could probably come up with something similar to his three points. What makes his book stand out is how he intertwines examples with his points. The examples he uses are thoroughly explained and continually referenced in the book. Not in the sense that it's repetitive, but more so in order to reinforce certain thoughts. And I loved how in the last chapter he offered specific examples of how his three points could be applied to current issues.

Honestly I thought this was one of the better books I've read in a long time. While the concept seems straightforward, the examples and the way everything came together makes this a worthwhile read.

My rating for The Tipping Point: 5 stars out of 5. Get it here!

P.S. I wanted to share a passage that I thought was incredibly insightful:

...dismiss as Band-Aid solutions. But that phrase should not be considered a term of disparagement. The Band-Aid is an inexpensive, convenient, and remarkably versatile solution to an astonishing array of problems. In all their history, Band-Aids have probably allowed millions of people to keep working or playing tennis or cooking or walking when they would otherwise have had to stop. The Band-Aid solution is actually the best kind of solution because it involves solving a problem with the minimum amount of effort and time and cost.