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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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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fresh and Original

I've already had a half a dozen friends thank me for suggesting this read/listen.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The Power of Numbers!

Wow... What a great read. Malcom Gladwell really captures the spirit of human connections and the human need to feel part of something. A definate must read for anyone interested in looking at what moves people and how a small event can result in large response.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The Tipping Point

Filled with interesting data, read with enthusiasm. A very good read (listen).

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Phenomenal Book!!!

This book is truly inspiration in all angles! A must read for everyone who has a desire to change the world into a better place

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Insightful, Important Information

Gladwell gives us the microscope on why people trend in one direction or another. I received the hardcopy from a friend who is the director of a major CA hospital. I have since shared it with CEO's and COO's and the feedback I've received is that it is perhaps the most important book anyone in business could read.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Abridged Adaptation of Social Marketing Classic

I had not realized that this was an abridged adaptation of the book until the publisher's outtro. It does contain all of the key concepts. The appendices are essential. i

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The Tipping Point - the best.

If you are in business - you have to read this book. Easy to listen to and worth re-listening to anytime you feel a need to be re-energized about why you're in business. The small steps in the right direction - can make a big difference.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting ideas

While this boook is insightful it needs an update to stay relevant in today's world of algorithms and short attention spans.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Z
  • 08-10-05

An interesting listen

I really enjoyed this audio book. I've heard Malcolm Gladwell speak before and had been interested to "read" The Tipping Point for a while. It's a mixture of anectdotes, psychology, economics, marketing, epidemiology and more.

The principle focus of The Tipping Point is how small changes, can bring about large effects. With examples such as marketing of Hush Puppies shoes, the broken windows theory, Airwalk shoes, Paul Reveres midnight ride, word of mouth, mass hysteria and more.

The only disappointing thing about this audio book is that it is abridged. If you like short 3 hour "quick listen"'s, you may not mind, but it felt to me, like a reasonable amount of material was cut out. This was even more apparent at the end during the afterword, when it references several things that did not appear in this audio book.

But overall, it was enjoyable, fairly "light reading", and kept my interest throughout.

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35 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome!!!

This is an incredible book and narrated by the author whom has a beautiful voice and adds feeling to the words. I was enthrawled.

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5 people found this helpful