I received an email from an author I respect quite highly in which he said, “Malcolm Gladwell would call you a ‘maven,’ and so would I.” In the context, I knew it was a compliment, but I didn’t know exactly what he meant, so I borrowed a copy of “The Tipping Point” and was immediately convinced that Gladwell deserves every bit of acclaim that he has.
“The Tipping Point” is a study of people and cultures and trends, specifically how trends evolve. Using stories of everything from how Hush Puppies became the height of fashion to why Paul Revere is credited for spreading the word so effectively, this book analyzes how products, messages and ideas “tip” and become marks of society. Reading it helped me understand a bit more about myself (many more people have called me a “connector” since the initial “maven” remark) and about why some things we try work, and other equally great ideas don’t. I have found this book extremely insightful and helpful.
The Tipping Point made me an instant Malcolm Gladwell fan, and I have another book of his on my coffee table and two on hold at the library. I plan to add all of his books to my personal bibliography.