The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference in Clean Reads

Jan 26, 2021 Liz rated it really liked it

It was interesting to read this book after other Malcolm Gladwell books. His style has evolved over time, and the examples were a little farther out time wise. I thought since I enjoyed his other work it would be worth the read, and it was. I also enjoy the freakenomics books and this book has some of the same examples they use ie the 38 witnesses to a violent crime in NY and the reason for the crime rate going down in NYC. The books cite very different reasons for the behavior. I guess some thi ...more

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Jul 17, 2011 Marilee rated it it was ok

I'm struggling to see why this book was so popular. Some of the ideas are interesting, and some of them were a bit of a stretch. The chapter that talked about teenage smoking seemed to contradict itself at times. It's not a bad read, but it's not well written. Some of the sentences were poorly structured, and the transitions were like a high school essay. Since this is Gladwell's first book, I might try another someday. I'm curious to see if his writing style has improved. All in all, an okay bo ...more

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Oct 31, 2008 Erika rated it liked it

Shelves: non-fiction

This book makes a compelling argument in favor of the principle that it is out of "small things" that "great things" happen. Within the context of social epidemics like crime, fashion trends, STD's, television, and the like, Gladwell illustrates how at it's "tipping point" an epidemic can expand exponentially, and how on the other side, an epidemic can be exponentially reduced by the simplest of means. The author looks at existing research in a new light, and synthesizes the information seamless ...more

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May 27, 2009 ValerieWitte rated it it was ok

I suppose it's interesting if you like pop sociology with a dash of psychology and attempts to explain social and cultural phenomena using an economics-like approach. I've found that I, myself, do not.
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