Tipping Point
Eduardo Valdez
Mr. Pass
ELA
May 13, 2015
The Tipping Point In his book, “The Tipping Point,” Malcolm Gladwell puts forth a compelling theory that illustrates the way trends and epidemics share three common characteristics: The Law of The Few, The Stickiness Factor, and The Power of Context. Gladwell begins with an overview of three shared factors between all epidemics. In essence, “epidemics” happen when the right people encounter a potent idea under favorable circumstances. This to me seems a little bit obvious. If someone hears a good idea and starts telling other people about it and if the timing is right of course it is going to spread. But Gladwell's point is that, if it is that simple, then why do only some ideas spread and turn into trends, and not all of them? The book is as much about why some ideas spread, not just how they spread. Gladwell begins by picking out key people who make up The Law of The Few: a tiny percentage of people who do the work build the momentum. One of these types of people are connectors. Connectors are popular people who stand out and know a large amount of people. They are the ones who are often introducing you to new people and who have the viral capacity to showcase and advocate you to new ideas. Gladwell uses Paul Revere as an example, claiming that Revere's successful spreading of the message that the British were coming was in part of the result that he knew many people in the neighboring towns. Mavens are another one of these other key people, they are opinion leading consumers who spread influence by sharing their knowledge with others. Mavens are the type of people who seem to know everything, and more importantly, they want to help. The person who tells you why this product is superior to another. Gladwell profiles a modern-day maven, and laughs at himself as he takes the mavens suggestion for a hotel when he travels and then finds himself passing that suggestion on. Gladwell also focuses on the fact that mavens
Mr. Pass
ELA
May 13, 2015
The Tipping Point In his book, “The Tipping Point,” Malcolm Gladwell puts forth a compelling theory that illustrates the way trends and epidemics share three common characteristics: The Law of The Few, The Stickiness Factor, and The Power of Context. Gladwell begins with an overview of three shared factors between all epidemics. In essence, “epidemics” happen when the right people encounter a potent idea under favorable circumstances. This to me seems a little bit obvious. If someone hears a good idea and starts telling other people about it and if the timing is right of course it is going to spread. But Gladwell's point is that, if it is that simple, then why do only some ideas spread and turn into trends, and not all of them? The book is as much about why some ideas spread, not just how they spread. Gladwell begins by picking out key people who make up The Law of The Few: a tiny percentage of people who do the work build the momentum. One of these types of people are connectors. Connectors are popular people who stand out and know a large amount of people. They are the ones who are often introducing you to new people and who have the viral capacity to showcase and advocate you to new ideas. Gladwell uses Paul Revere as an example, claiming that Revere's successful spreading of the message that the British were coming was in part of the result that he knew many people in the neighboring towns. Mavens are another one of these other key people, they are opinion leading consumers who spread influence by sharing their knowledge with others. Mavens are the type of people who seem to know everything, and more importantly, they want to help. The person who tells you why this product is superior to another. Gladwell profiles a modern-day maven, and laughs at himself as he takes the mavens suggestion for a hotel when he travels and then finds himself passing that suggestion on. Gladwell also focuses on the fact that mavens