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The Tipping Point  By  cover art

The Tipping Point

By: Malcolm Gladwell
Narrated by: Malcolm Gladwell
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Publisher's summary

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.

Don't miss any of Malcolm Gladwell's books, articles, and interviews.
©2000 Malcolm Gladwell (P)2005 Time Warner AudioBooks

Critic reviews

Why is it that fashion trends change the way we dress? Why do various TV shows, movies, and books become so popular? Malcolm Gladwell provides a diagram of our society, along with an analysis of the strategies people apply to influence and mold its direction. Gladwell describes the personality types that create trends and those that influence others by "spreading the word." 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. B.J.P. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEPT 01]

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What listeners say about The Tipping Point

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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting & Informative

I love that the information is relative regardless of the time period. I’d love to hear Gladwell’s pov on current situations with youth and media. He had a-lot of insight in his 7th or 8th chapter about teenagers and epidemic behavior. The whole book was interesting and insightful.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

oops -- who knows who might have liked the book?

I am an audible user who tries to avoid listening to abridgments (and won't touch a Reader's Digest Select Edition -- previously known, and more honestly so, as "condensed books")

I make mistakes now and then, though, and didn't notice that this was an abridgement until the credits were rolling at the end of the read.

Who knows if I might have liked the book. The subject matter was intriguing, the reading well done. But I'd like to share my views with folks who were free to "read" the book (I can't; reading it is not possible with my vision). So I have no idea how much I heard, nor how much was edited out.

It's a pity ...

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Freakanomics has my vote.

I have the highest regard for Malcolm Gladwell from what I have read of him in the New Yorker. However, I found this audiobook nowhere near as interesting or wide-ranging as Freakanomics, which also tries to explain observed sociological phenomena. Both, for example, consider the marked drop in the homicide rate in the early 1990's in New York. Freakanomics uses extensive data to persuade the listener that it was part of a national trend precipitated by the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision which legaled abortion. This is far more persuasive than Gladwell's view that it was just consequence of a decision by a few New York gangleaders which then spread among the rest. Freakanomics is also superior because of the authors' humor and the more expressive way in which the book is read.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Listen to again and again

Of the numerous audio books I've listened to, this is the one I replay over and over. Very insightful way of looking at trends and what causes them.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Gets Mental Gears Turning

I'm glad I bought and listened to this book. Although no gound-swell of wisdom overtook me, the book caused me to think. What else can you really expect these days. Easy listen and well-told.

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    2 out of 5 stars

doesn't read everything!! audio dosent full book

this audio doesn't read the full book! skips about 2/3 of each chapter and you have find where it's skip to continue following

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

A must read for any business person

Gladwell offers several good examples of how we can create change when there is a clear understanding of what forces are at play. Well written with very interesting examples, this book has helped focus the marketing of our business as well as the direction of change. Listen twice!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Infinitely applicable

I found Tipping Point to be an enjoyable book to promote thought regarding various ideas and their infinite and varied applications to life.

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

another Gladwell hit!

I don't know what it is about Mr. Gladwell,I just love listening to him read his books. I sometimes think I could listen to him read The Bible and I would be totally engaged. This book was one of his that I couldn't possible fall asleep listening to, it was so interesting....

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    4 out of 5 stars

Always referred to Malcom

Many people recommend Malcom’s books to me. This has been on my shelf for a while. It was a good confirmation of what I knew though could not articulate

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