The Tipping Point

Hello Gentle Reader

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

Is a non-fiction piece of work by author: Malcolm Gladwell.

I am not a non-fiction reader. I perfer to be entertained mostly when I am reading, rather then to be reading a buisness lecture. Usually if i wish to get a buisness lecture i would go to college or university and take buisness and get lectured on buisness, and the fundemental properties of buisness and economics. However Mr. Malcolm Gladwell, has come to be a rather intersting and curios case of leniency.

To sum the area's of discussions in Mr. Malcolm Gladwell's novels; is basically as simple as pie. However, Mr. Macolm Gladwell, just just talk about the theme's and topic's that he is talking about, in dull and dry terms. He use's examples of real life marketing, and history even, as well as legal cases of law, to make his points and arguements, entertaining, clear and direct.

For the purpose of this quick review and blog we shall use two modern day examples that clearly show what Mr. Malcolm Gladwell is pointing on in his book.

Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber. A few months ago, i would have asked you the following: "Who and what?" Justin Bieber meant nothing to me. Lady Gaga i thought was a shoe. Only roughly a few months ago, was i introduced to who these two "Pop Culture Phenomena," where.

They are muscians or rather singers. Its far to much of a compliment, to call them muscians, when they are singers. Personally I find their music distasteful and not for me; however there are people who really do like their music. The question is why?

In Mr. Malcolm Gladwell's book "The Tipping Point," this would be called a "Stickiness Factor," something that makes these two singers memorable to the audience and the crowd that they are presenting themselves two. Is it Lady Gaga's image? The fact that Justin Bieber looks like a thirteen year old boy who just entered puberty? Is it their uplifting, feel good music? Is it their catchy sing along lyrics? Repetive tunes? I cannot say for sure, but there is a "Stickiness Factor," that is presented with these two individuals. Something that gets the listener hooked like a junkie gets hooked on herionie, or a smoker does with a cigarette.

"The Law of Few," is how these epidemic people had spread in popularity and why they kept to listening to their music. There was a memorable shot that was ingrained in their minds after listening. But once we find the short few that find or "discover," these people, they pass it on to their friends. However the real people that these two singers, should be thanking is what Malcolm Gladwell calls "Connectors." These are the people that connect us to the real world, and the different aspects of the world. The next individual that helps these individuals is the "Mavens." These people specialize in information. They are detailed, and very percise in the information that they know and collect. The last and least is the "Salesman." The charasmatic, great people person, who can can sell you a rotten arm and a leg, and have you convinced that its a great deal. These are the people that are that make these individual successful.

The last point and theme of the book is: "The Power of Context."

In the book Mr. Gladwell makes it clear that to spread an epedemic's are very sensitive to the enviroments and situations that they are spreading in.

Do you remember when the recession finally hit hard. The economic melt down had finally hit home. People where loosing their jobs. People (understandably) angry at what had happened. How the people in charge, had cost(ed) them their livelyhood. It had destroyed their families. Taken away the bright and shinning future's, and had caused an uproar. Yet the common person had no idea how this happened.

Yet in this time and desperation, depression, hoplessness, and anger, there came a voice. A woman's voice. Just an oridinary woman, who was plain, middle aged, and nothing special about her. Yet suddenly she walked on to stage with a cheeky smile, and wanted to be given the chance to sing. Her name: Susan Boyle. People where laughing at her. Thinking, this woman can't sing. They gawked at her appearance. They found her amusing and wished her to fail. However from her mouth came the song "I Dreamed a Dream," from the soundtrack of the Les Misérables. Her voice shook the audience into shock. Gathered a standing ocation, and had people, really thinking about how rude they were (not really but i am trying to have faith in humanity).

In this time of desperate need, there came this ordinary woman. She opened her mouth and sung out loud, and proud and did not hold back. The last laugh certainly was her own, and well deserved.

The "Youtube," video depecting her audition for "Britians Got Talent," went viral on "Youtube." In a time of need, Susan Boyle had people smiling, and put maybe bit of hope in dreams once more, and had people hoping they can make it through this terrible time of need.

Susan Boyle's epedimic was partly due to the time's and she was certainly a well needed burst of fresh air. she was not some glamorous young pop star, strutting around on stage in a thong or a bikini. she was modest, and let her voice speak for her, rather then her body.

If it is one thing that, this book had taught me, was that i have no control over epedimic's in pop culture or the world. However, I as a person have the free will to stand up and excersise my right not to buy their CD's as well as criticize these epedimic's. it should always be noted, that for every person that likes you, there is five people that will hate you.

This novel certainly was not boring. The content was at one point in time would have been boring at one point, but at this point with the use of examples, both modern and historical, Mr. Malcolm Gladwell did not make it boring whatsoever. Certainly an intersting, read indeed.

Thank-you for Reading Gentle Reader
Stay well Read

Take Care

M.Mary