I’m currently engaged in a rather close reading of Malcolm Gladwell’s book, The Tipping Point, which is about epidemiology as a metaphor for social phenomenon. It’s got a lot of case studies of different fads and social events looked at from that light. I’m actually reading and studying it as a sort of case study of my own to look at how certain books about complex cultural theory are packaged in such a way as they become mainstream hits. I’ve learned a lot from it already from that sort of marketing & information delivery angle, nevermind he has some halfway decent ideas which he is trying to convey.
One of the things Gladwell does that I like is he has the ability to really encapsulate his concepts in very quick shorthand descriptions, which he then goes and elaborates on. It’s all very tightly written, from a certain perspective. I found a Q&A on his site which I like as a description of his book, but which I also want to mine as I put together my own book.
- How would you classify The Tipping Point? Is it a science book?
I like to think of it as an intellectual adventure story. It draws from psychology and sociology and epidemiology, and uses examples from the worlds of business and education and fashion and media. If I had to draw an analogy to another book, I’d say it was like Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence, in the sense that it takes theories and ideas from the social sciences and shows how they can have real relevance to our lives.
…there is a little bit of sociology, a little of psychology and a little bit of history, all in aid of explaining a very common but mysterious phenomenon that we deal with every day. I guess what I’m saying is that I’m not sure that this book fits into any one category. That’s why I call it an adventure story. I think it will appeal to anyone who wants to understand the world around them in a different way. I think it can give the reader an advantage–a new set of tools. Of course, I also think they’ll be in for a very fun ride.
…This is not an abstract, academic book. It’s very practical. And it’s very hopeful. It’s brain software.
- END -
ASSOCIATED CONTENT @TMBCHR (Auto-Generated)
- Watch out for opposing worldviews!!
- See America by Balloon
- What Leaders Do
- [Digital Broadcast Shamanism] Intent Mark-Up Technique
- Two methods that will help you win any argument.
