The Tipping Point

How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference

By: Malcolm Gladwell

Narrated by: Malcolm Gladwell

Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

From the bestselling author of The Bomber Mafia: discover Malcolm Gladwell's breakthrough debut and explore the science behind viral trends in business, marketing, and human behavior.

The tipping point is that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire. Just as a single sick person can start an epidemic of the flu, so too can a small but precisely targeted push cause a fashion trend, the popularity of a new product, or a drop in the crime rate. This widely acclaimed bestseller, in which Malcolm Gladwell explores and brilliantly illuminates the tipping point phenomenon, is already changing the way people throughout the world think about selling products and disseminating ideas.

“A wonderful page-turner about a fascinating idea that should affect the way every thinking person looks at the world.” —Michael Lewis

©2007 Malcolm Gladwell (P)2007 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"History takes on a whole new perspective as he describes events of early America that specifically follow his theories of 'selling the public on an idea' and 'social epidemics.' Feedback from market mavericks further substantiates Gladwell's viewpoints." (AudioFile)

"Gladwell, a New Yorker staff writer, offers an incisive and piquant theory of social dynamics that is bound to provoke a paradigm shift in our understanding of mass behavioral change." (Booklist)

"Hip and hopeful, The Tipping Point is like the idea it describes: concise, elegant, but packed with social power. A book for anyone who cares about how society works and how we can make it better." (George Stephanopoulos)

My tipping point…for audio

Malcolm Gladwell’s The Tipping Point was the first book I ever listened to, well at least completely. I had a hard time grasping all the characters and unfolding plot lines in fiction at first – and had listened to the beginnings of some novels as many as seven times – before I fell in love with being read to in The Tipping Point.

I’m not sure if it was Gladwell’s fascinating concepts, or the feeling as if he was talking right with me, but I remember listening the whole way through, alone at home, one quiet autumn night.

…And the rest is history. I’ve listened to many more books since then – both fiction and nonfiction – but this one will always remain a favorite of mine.

Good read and listen ...

This is the first time I've done this, but I purchased both the paperback and unabridged audiobook. The audiobook was for doiong cardio at the gym, and the paperback was for the local coffee shop. Both were great. One thing that stood out about the audiobook was that it was read by the author. I found this really added to the value of the audiobook as Gladwell tells his stories very well.

I enjoyed "The Tipping Point" more than "Blink," if you're trying to decide which to do first, but both were very enjoyable.

Interesting case studies

This book contained some very interesting examples of epidemics and provided mainly anecdotal evidence for how the tipping could be reached. The author presents some interesting insights into human behavior. I was left uncertain as to how to apply his ideas. Nonetheless, it is a good read and very interesting.

Couldn't put down - thought provoking!

I was so fascinated with this book that I had to keep re-reading sections to re-absorb the information. LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT!!!

Amazing New outlook

I have never looked at things soo differently after listening to the amazing book. This book help me to interpret a issue that lacked the knowledge to translate. This book also helped me to discover what kind of person I am, giving me a little more confidence. I'm a connector!

This book changed how I see marketing.

Since listening to this book I'm captivated by the concept of Influencers, Mavens and Connectors. Amazing book. Timeless.

top level

I started with talking to strangers, then went to this book. I love the way this guy thinks. great book

Great read

Very engaging and informative. If you liked Seth Godin's books, you are going to enjoy this one.

Applicable To Workplace Safety

As a safety professional, I found this book incredibly applicable to my work and have begun integrating some of the theories in this book into my safety program. But even if it weren’t so useful, I still found the information very interesting I even caught myself sitting in the driveway of my house at the end of my commute, not wanting to turn off the book.

This book could create a Tipping Point

Another home run for Malcom Gladwell. The book covers ideas such as the importance of word of mouth epidemics, mavens, connectors and stickiness. All these factors make an idea tip.

Gladwell uses ideas as different as Paul Revere's ride to teen smoking to tennis shoes to a treasure box to explained his ideas.

I think the ideas expressed in this book were harder or more complex than in the others I have read. I think I will read the print version.