Binding: Audio CD
Dewey Decimal Number: 302
EAN: 9781600240058
Edition: Unabridged
Format: Audiobook, Unabridged
ISBN: 1600240054
Label: Hachette Audio
Manufacturer: Hachette Audio
Number Of Items: 8
Publication Date: April 03, 2007
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Studio: Hachette Audio

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Editorial Review:

Amazon.com Review:
"The best way to understand the dramatic transformation of unknown books into bestsellers, or the rise of teenage smoking, or the phenomena of word of mouth or any number of the other mysterious changes that mark everyday life," writes Malcolm Gladwell, "is to think of them as epidemics. Ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread just like viruses do." Although anyone familiar with the theory of memetics will recognize this concept, Gladwell's The Tipping Point has quite a few interesting twists on the subject.

For example, Paul Revere was able to galvanize the forces of resistance so effectively in part because he was what Gladwell calls a "Connector": he knew just about everybody, particularly the revolutionary leaders in each of the towns that he rode through. But Revere "wasn't just the man with the biggest Rolodex in colonial Boston," he was also a "Maven" who gathered extensive information about the British. He knew what was going on and he knew exactly whom to tell. The phenomenon continues to this day--think of how often you've received information in an e-mail message that had been forwarded at least half a dozen times before reaching you.

Gladwell develops these and other concepts (such as the "stickiness" of ideas or the effect of population size on information dispersal) through simple, clear explanations and entertainingly illustrative anecdotes, such as comparing the pedagogical methods of Sesame Street and Blue's Clues, or explaining why it would be even easier to play Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon with the actor Rod Steiger. Although some readers may find the transitional passages between chapters hold their hands a little too tightly, and Gladwell's closing invocation of the possibilities of social engineering sketchy, even chilling, The Tipping Point is one of the most effective books on science for a general audience in ages. It seems inevitable that "tipping point," like "future shock" or "chaos theory," will soon become one of those ideas that everybody knows--or at least knows by name. --Ron Hogan

Product Description:
"The best way to understand the dramatic transformation of unknown books into bestsellers, or the rise of teenage smoking, or the phenomena of word of mouth or any number of the other mysterious changes that mark everyday life," writes Malcolm Gladwell, "is to think of them as epidemics. Ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread just like viruses do." Although anyone familiar with the theory of memetics will recognize this concept, Gladwell's The Tipping Point has quite a few interesting twists on the subject.For example, Paul Revere was able to galvanize the forces of resistance so effectively in part because he was what Gladwell calls a "Connector": he knew just about everybody, particularly the revolutionary leaders in each of the towns that he rode through. But Revere "wasn't just the man with the biggest Rolodex in colonial Boston," he was also a "Maven" who gathered extensive information about the British. He knew what was going on and he knew exactly whom to tell. The phenomenon continues to this day--think of how often you've received information in an e-mail message that had been forwarded at least half a dozen times before reaching you.Gladwell develops these and other concepts (such as the "stickiness" of ideas or the effect of population size on information dispersal) through simple, clear explanations and entertainingly illustrative anecdotes, such as comparing the pedagogical methods of Sesame Street and Blue's Clues, or explaining why it would be even easier to play Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon with the actor Rod Steiger. Although some readers may find the transitional passages between chapters hold their hands a little too tightly, and Gladwell's closing invocation of the possibilities of social engineering sketchy, even chilling, The Tipping Point is one of the most effective books on science for a general audience in ages. It seems inevitable that "tipping point," like "future shock" or "chaos theory," will soon become one of those ideas that everybody knows--or at least knows by name. --Ron Hogan




Rating: - It is a tipping point, unless it is not
Malcolm Gladwell writes well. But there is not much substance. Sometimes, there is a point in time something changes dramatically. Sometimes, it doesn't come. These first ones are by definition a Tipping Point. Is there anything really interesting here? Not really. How can a tautology be worth a full book? Pages after pages of blah blah blah....

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Rating: - Enough already.......
Obviously I am in the minority here - but I was sorely disappointed in what I read of this book.

As a Sociology Major I was excited and all aquiver to read this facinating book. But after the Hush Puppy example in the first few pages of the book I seriously found myself wondering how many examples of the exact same thing I was going to have to read through.

I really do admire the authors boundless enthusiasm for this subject matter - well - at least I did for about the ... Read More

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Rating: - fantastic read
What an interesting read! I really like it when I come across a book that I can't put down. This is one of those really interesting factual reads that gives societal feedback and maybe something that in turn could help the reader. Highly recommendable!

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Rating: - Useful to understand how word of mouth is built and how it spreads
Given the current and complex way consumers and voters build their impressions and opinions about products, companies and candidates, word of mouth is today even more important than it was some decades ago. This book ilustrates how word of mouth is created and how it spreads. Very useful for people in PR, advertising and other communications activities.

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Rating: - Very interesting!
I believe the basic premise of The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell actually is true. If the right people take an idea and start behaving differently it will surge out until it reaches the "Tipping Point". Sometimes it the little things that mean the most.
By the way, I see from reading the reviews on this site some people have recommend my book, "The Enlightenment, What God Told Me After One Million Prayers: A Message for Everyone," and again I ... Read More

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