Hit Makers

The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction

By: Derek Thompson

Narrated by: Derek Thompson

From the #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of Abundance comes a groundbreaking and entertaining investigation into what makes a hit a hit–from films and music to art and design.

“Enthralling—full of 'aha' moments about why some ideas soar and others never get off the ground. This book picks up where The Tipping Point left off." —Adam Grant

Nothing “goes viral.” If you think a popular movie, song, or app came out of nowhere to become a word-of-mouth success in today’s crowded media environment, you’re missing the real story. Each blockbuster has a secret history—of power, influence, dark broadcasters, and passionate cults that turn some new products into cultural phenomena. Even the most brilliant ideas wither in obscurity if they fail to connect with the right network, and the consumers that matter most aren't the early adopters, but rather their friends, followers, and imitators—the audience of your audience.

In his groundbreaking investigation, Atlantic senior editor Derek Thompson uncovers the hidden psychology of why we like what we like and reveals the economics of cultural markets that invisibly shape our lives. Shattering the sentimental myths of hit-making that dominate pop culture and business, Thompson shows quality is insufficient for success, nobody has "good taste," and some of the most popular products in history were one bad break away from utter failure. It may be a new world, but there are some enduring truths to what audiences and consumers want. People love a familiar surprise: a product that is bold, yet sneakily recognizable.

Every business, every artist, every person looking to promote themselves and their work wants to know what makes some works so successful while others disappear. Hit Makers is a magical mystery tour through the last century of pop culture blockbusters and the most valuable currency of the twenty-first century—people’s attention.

From the dawn of impressionist art to the future of Facebook, from small Etsy designers to the origin of Star Wars, Derek Thompson leaves no pet rock unturned to tell the fascinating story of how culture happens and why things become popular.

In Hit Makers, Derek Thompson investigates:
* What Taylor Swift, the printing press, and the laugh track have in common
* The secret link between ESPN's sticky programming and the The Weeknd's catchy choruses
* How advertising critics predicted Donald Trump
* The 5th grader who accidentally launched "Rock Around the Clock," the biggest hit in rock and roll history
* How Barack Obama and his speechwriters think of themselves as songwriters
* How Disney conquered the world—but the future of hits belongs to savvy amateurs and individuals
* The French collector who accidentally created the Impressionist canon
* Quantitative evidence that the biggest music hits aren’t always the best
* Why almost all Hollywood blockbusters are sequels, reboots, and adaptations
* Why one year--1991--is responsible for the way pop music sounds today
* Why another year --1932--created the business model of film
* How data scientists proved that “going viral” is a myth
* How 19th century immigration patterns explain the most heard song in the Western Hemisphere

Super insightful. Loads of fun and useful facts.

I’m very happy I chose this audio book. It has helped me engage in conversations which talk about the topics around a persons attention and psychology. Great to listen at 1.25x speed.

Smartest Take on Popularity Yet

Well written and deep without ever being confusing. It makes the stories of success into real lessons on the dynamic and challenging world of making content for the masses.

So loved this book

I did not expect so much history of media when I first purchased this book, but came to learn just how important it played into the role of hit making. This is a great book for anyone curious about history, or interested in creating a hit.

Surprised

I really enjoyed this book.
It started off in a way I thought I might not finish it. However I’m glad I did. This book really exemplifies a few interesting topics in relatable ways. Then draws them together in package I will be look at/for, for years to come.

Wonderfully Fresh Thinking

Any additional comments?

This was a delightful book. So many non-fiction reads are simply aggregations, rehashing old ideas. Thompson came at this book with some truly fresh thinking and new explanations for the baffling world of pop culture and buzz.

Believe or not, there’s a lot of established scientific reasoning behind a top song, a popular politician or a bestselling book. I was deeply impressed with so many of his suppositions. Again and again, he came up with new ways to look at baffling patterns. His ideas made the crazy world of fickle human wants a lot less confusing.

His writing style is casual and friendly. The book doesn’t spout theory, but uses fascinating stories about amazing people to illustrate very smart conclusions.

He even narrated the audio book and did an impressive job. There’s nothing quite like when a smart author reads his own words. He brought a lot of life to the performance.

I highly recommend this book. It tells fascinating human stories and provides real insight on the deeply human motivations and patterns that so often seem inexplicable.