Book Review : The Tipping point

   Just started reading 'The Tipping Point' by Malcolm Gladwell. Its an older book by the same author whose recently published 'Blink' is creating waves all over. The Tipping Point is about how little things can make big differences in the world. I have just started reading it today and have only finished reading the introduction. But even in those many pages, the writer has captured my interest. He starts by taking an example of a shoe brand called Hush Puppies (the same one as by Bata?) and explains how after a period of low sales, it suddenly caught up in people's eyes and came into fashion during 1994-1996. He takes a further example of the crime rate in NY.
   There is also another interesting examples of how a simple thing as yawning can be contagious. I don't want to reveal too much about the book here. Let me finish it first. The actual review will come later. Already got Blink lined up for my next read.

22/04/2005

   Just finished reading The Tipping Point. My reaction to the book is quite neutral.
   First the bad points, I was expecting the book to be more helpful in explaining to the reader what could he try out to achieve the results achieved by the Connectors, Mavens and the Salesmen. Some practical tips would have been helpful. Also it gets quite boring at the end. The case study relating to smoking is needlessly carried on and on.
   Looking at the good side, the book explains something which is quite new to me. It made me realize the importance of word of mouth and social ties. These can be very powerful communication medium. Some of the studies mentioned in the book do make you think twice about the nature of humans, esp. the one where how two groups participating as prisoners and prison guards in a study started behaving like their actual counterparts. Overall I would give the book 4 out of 5.
   Started reading Blink. Will post the review later.