The Tipping Point

I finally managed to read The Tipping Point after over a month of waiting in line at the school library. This is the first for-leisure book that I’ve read in quite a while in my bid to spend less time in front of the computer. When you boil it down, the “tipping point” that Gladwell talks about comprises of 3 components: (1) the law of the few (2) stickiness (3) The power of context. The book is a collection of anecdotes of how small changes can make big differences. The case he cites at the beginning of the book was that of Hush Puppies, which was rescued from the brink of unfashionableness by a bunch of funky individuals who thought it would be cool to wear these shoes that everyone has shunned. While the cases that Gladwell examines are all very compelling, many of the cases seem serendipitous as opposed to intentional. Nonetheless, the book is a very good introduction to the power of networks.

One related article I read recently was about how club promoters go out of their way to create a buzz about a particular club since the decision of a couple of core people regarding where to chill out could very well make all the difference since clubbers tend to move in packs.