Malcolm Gladwell's first book examines why ideas, products, and behaviors spread through society the way epidemics spread through a population, reaching a single dramatic moment of critical mass. Drawing on case studies ranging from the surprise revival of Hush Puppies to the sudden plunge in New York City's crime rate, he argues that these tipping points are driven by a small set of unusually connected or persuasive people, the inherent "stickiness" of a message, and the power of surrounding context. The result is a work of popular social science that reshaped how readers talk about word of mouth, trends, and sudden social change.
Books mentioned in The Tipping Point (23)
Ashes to Ashes by Richard Kluger: “Richard Kluger, Ashes to Ashes (New York: Alfred A.”
The Trouble with Science by Robin Dunbar: “The vervet and card game work is described in Robin Dunbar, The Trouble with Science (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1995), chapters six and seven.”
The Small World by Manfred Kochen: “For a (highly) theoretical treatment of the small world subject, see: Manfred Kochen (ed.), The Small World (Norwood, New Jersey: Ablex Publishing Corp., 1989).”
The Nurture Assumption by Judith Rich Harris: “The birth order myth is brilliantly dissected in Judith Rich Harris, The Nurture Assumption (New York: Free Press, 1998), p.”
Getting a Job by Mark Granovetter: “Mark Granovetter, Getting a Job (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995).”
And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts: “Randy Shilts, And the Band Played On (New York: St.”
Children and Television: Lessons from Sesame Street by Gerald Lesser: “The best history of Sesame Street is probably: Gerald Lesser, Children and Television: Lessons from Sesame Street (New York: Vintage Books, 1975).”
Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore: “Geoffrey Moore, Crossing the Chasm (New York: HarperCollins, 1991), pp.”
Ending the War on Drugs by Dirk Chase Eldredge: “There is a good summary of the available statistics on drug use and addiction in: Dirk Chase Eldredge, Ending the War on Drugs (Bridgehampton, New York: Bridge Works Publishing, 1998), pp.”
Diffusion of Innovations by Everett Rogers: “The study is nicely described (along with other work on diffusion theory) in Everett Rogers, Diffusion of Innovations (New York: Free Press, 1995).”
Viral Sex: The Nature of AIDS by Jaap Goudsmit: “Jaap Goudsmit, Viral Sex: The Nature of AIDS (New York: Oxford Press, 1997), pp.”
The Psychology of Rumor by Gordon Allport and Leo Postman: “Gordon Allport and Leo Postman, The Psychology of Rumor (New York: Henry Holt, 1947), pp.”
The Person and the Situation by Richard Nisbett and Lee Ross: “Nisbett and Lee Ross, The Person and the Situation (Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 1991).”
Sexual Ecology: AIDS and the Destiny of Gay Men by Gabriel Rotello: “One of the best lay treatments of the mechanics of a disease epidemic is Gabriel Rotello, Sexual Ecology: AIDS and the Destiny of Gay Men (New York: Penguin Books, 1997).”
The Limits of Family Influence by David C. Rowe: “Rowe, The Limits of Family Influence (New York: Guilford Press, 1994).”
Being Direct: Making Advertising Pay by Lester Wunderman: “Lester Wunderman, Being Direct: Making Advertising Pay (New York: Random House, 1996), chapters 10 and 11.”
Studies in the Nature of Character by Hugh Hartshorne and Mark May: “Their complete findings can be found in Hugh Hartshorne and Mark May, Studies in the Nature of Character, vol.”
Little Altars Everywhere by Rebecca Wells: “Wells had written one previous book—Little Altars Everywhere—which had been a minor cult hit in and around her hometown of Seattle.”
Inferno by Dante Alighieri: “It was like going into the transit version of Dante's Inferno.”
Books that mention The Tipping Point (1)
SuperFreakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner: “More than thirty-five years later, the horror lived on in The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell's groundbreaking book about social behavior, as an example of the "bystander effect," whereby the presence of multiple witnesses at a tragedy can actually inhibit intervention.”