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

Book Review: The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
Malcolm Gladwell
Little, Brown and Company, 2000

Writing from Lexington, Kentucky

(I picked up the book from the library because in a hurry, I thought it might be about my ragdoll cat whose name is Tippy. But I decided to read it anyway.)

This is an interesting book that tells us that often the way to affect change is not through heavy-handed techniques, but by paying attention to small things that can make all the difference. Mr. Gladwell tells us about the Law of the Few (connectors, mavens, and salesmen), which means that the personal characteristics of people make a big difference. The Stickiness Factor explains how small changes in the presentation or characteristics of something can make a huge difference in its effectiveness. The Power of Context tells us how seemingly small changes like the vigilant effort to remove graffiti in New York City subway cars led to a larger reduction in serious crime in the subways.

I think this book has some good ideas and can be helpful for anyone who wants to influence others. Many interesting examples are used to illustrate the lessons of this book. Author’s website for this book.