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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
hopeful
informative
fast-paced
Chip and Dan Heath explore what makes some ideas and marketing campaigns memorable (stickier) than others. They leverage the use of an acronym (a super-sticky framework) to help us remember that for sticky ideas to be a “success,” they must be:
Simple
Unexpected
Concrete
Credible
Emotional
Stories
OK — the acronym doesn’t exactly spell “success,” but you get the idea.
Here is a QUICK overview of these concepts, but the book goes into more detail that you shouldn't skip out on.
First, SIMPLE does not mean dumbing it down. Instead, it refers to a clear idea that is core. Getting down to your core message can guide your every decision. If choices don’t support the core message, they are not appropriate.
UNEXPECTED is something that immediately grabs your attention and breaks through the noise. In our chaos-driven world, something unexpected grabs our attention because it goes against the regular patterns that allow us to stay on autopilot. That’s why unexpected stories or situations are so sticky.
CONCRETE includes ideas that give you something relatable to hold onto. Something concrete could be numbers-based, but remember that numbers can become abstract and meaningless. Think of concrete as comparisons or examples that readers will know well and can instantly understand what you’re talking about.
CREDIBLE is exactly what it sounds like. It answers why I should listen to and trust this message.
EMOTIONAL can be tricky because people assume you must go all Sarah McLaughlin sad song/pets in cages to trigger an emotional response. That’s one way to go, but it’s not the end-all-be-all. For sticky ideas, emotional means developing a connection with someone on an emotional level. People are far more likely to act if they feel connected with something.
Finally, STORIES— we all listen to stories because we are conditioned to do so. It’s how we communicate what happened during our day, how we share ideas, and where we find entertainment. A story makes a message relatable and makes it easier to remember the key details. It doesn’t have to be a complex story, either. Simple stories stick with us for years, if not decades.
Simple
Unexpected
Concrete
Credible
Emotional
Stories
OK — the acronym doesn’t exactly spell “success,” but you get the idea.
Here is a QUICK overview of these concepts, but the book goes into more detail that you shouldn't skip out on.
First, SIMPLE does not mean dumbing it down. Instead, it refers to a clear idea that is core. Getting down to your core message can guide your every decision. If choices don’t support the core message, they are not appropriate.
UNEXPECTED is something that immediately grabs your attention and breaks through the noise. In our chaos-driven world, something unexpected grabs our attention because it goes against the regular patterns that allow us to stay on autopilot. That’s why unexpected stories or situations are so sticky.
CONCRETE includes ideas that give you something relatable to hold onto. Something concrete could be numbers-based, but remember that numbers can become abstract and meaningless. Think of concrete as comparisons or examples that readers will know well and can instantly understand what you’re talking about.
CREDIBLE is exactly what it sounds like. It answers why I should listen to and trust this message.
EMOTIONAL can be tricky because people assume you must go all Sarah McLaughlin sad song/pets in cages to trigger an emotional response. That’s one way to go, but it’s not the end-all-be-all. For sticky ideas, emotional means developing a connection with someone on an emotional level. People are far more likely to act if they feel connected with something.
Finally, STORIES— we all listen to stories because we are conditioned to do so. It’s how we communicate what happened during our day, how we share ideas, and where we find entertainment. A story makes a message relatable and makes it easier to remember the key details. It doesn’t have to be a complex story, either. Simple stories stick with us for years, if not decades.
I really hate business books, but had to read this for work — so take my review with a grain of salt. This book had a good premise: the way you present an idea is the key to making it stick in your users’ minds.
The summary of the book is: make your ideas (S)imple, (U)nexpected, (C)redible, (C)oncrete, (E)motional, and a (S)tory … thus, a SUCCES (yikes).
Despite the cringe-inducing acronym, the book was decent, albeit repetitive. An ok-read, if you like this sort of book, I guess?
The summary of the book is: make your ideas (S)imple, (U)nexpected, (C)redible, (C)oncrete, (E)motional, and a (S)tory … thus, a SUCCES (yikes).
Despite the cringe-inducing acronym, the book was decent, albeit repetitive. An ok-read, if you like this sort of book, I guess?
informative
medium-paced
Have you ever seen two people tell the same story? Have you ever wondered why person A was able to grip the audience while person B put everyone to sleep? Made to Stick is essentially a book about why that happens. It focuses on how we communicate ideas and why the methods we choose matter. It's an engaging, insightful, memorable read that's worth a look whether you're a teacher, storyteller, or just a business professional who has to lead the occasional meeting.
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
A stretch for a 4 star but it was a reasonably good attempt at teaching us why some ideas stick. It just lacked the details and practical depth I was hoping to learn.
The Amazon reviews of this book ascribe the authors' inspiration to Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point", a book I enjoyed immensely with the journeys into the human psyche - memory, emotion, decision, and behavior. I was sorely disappointed that I did not find any such parallels in "Made to Stick". Nonetheless, I think the authors attempt and do succeed at writing a book that is beyond an average business book, as it shows us how to use stories and anecdotes and real life scenarios to make our ideas intriguing and lasting in the eyes of others.
The reading style is simple and characteristic of a good standard business book. The material is generally abstract, with relevant case studies and examples woven in. This will not be the most unforgettable business book or the most enjoyable one to read but it is also not a bad read. The chapters are organized remarkably well for the subject matter, and the authors carefully take us through the six major qualities of what they claim makes an idea stick:
Simplicity: Strip your Idea down to the very core.
Unexpectedness: Your Idea must be new; it must vary from preconceived notions of similar ideas.
Concreteness: Use practical stories and real world applications to explain your Idea.
Credibility: You as the owner of the idea must be or develop credibility as a person.
Emotion: Appeal to emotion as you articulate your idea. It often makes people act.
Stories: Telling the Idea in a story will captivate people.
While the book presents the six qualities through examples and case studies, it does not delve into ways to make your own ideas "stick" - From a historical and anecdotal perspective, it is well-researched and smartly written. From practicality standpoint, I would have liked to see examples of the authors taking average ideas, and turning them into intriguing ones using a clear approach. All in all, a quick and good read.
The Amazon reviews of this book ascribe the authors' inspiration to Malcolm Gladwell's "The Tipping Point", a book I enjoyed immensely with the journeys into the human psyche - memory, emotion, decision, and behavior. I was sorely disappointed that I did not find any such parallels in "Made to Stick". Nonetheless, I think the authors attempt and do succeed at writing a book that is beyond an average business book, as it shows us how to use stories and anecdotes and real life scenarios to make our ideas intriguing and lasting in the eyes of others.
The reading style is simple and characteristic of a good standard business book. The material is generally abstract, with relevant case studies and examples woven in. This will not be the most unforgettable business book or the most enjoyable one to read but it is also not a bad read. The chapters are organized remarkably well for the subject matter, and the authors carefully take us through the six major qualities of what they claim makes an idea stick:
Simplicity: Strip your Idea down to the very core.
Unexpectedness: Your Idea must be new; it must vary from preconceived notions of similar ideas.
Concreteness: Use practical stories and real world applications to explain your Idea.
Credibility: You as the owner of the idea must be or develop credibility as a person.
Emotion: Appeal to emotion as you articulate your idea. It often makes people act.
Stories: Telling the Idea in a story will captivate people.
While the book presents the six qualities through examples and case studies, it does not delve into ways to make your own ideas "stick" - From a historical and anecdotal perspective, it is well-researched and smartly written. From practicality standpoint, I would have liked to see examples of the authors taking average ideas, and turning them into intriguing ones using a clear approach. All in all, a quick and good read.
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
An excellent read for anyone that has to convey information professionally. Overall great read and paced well