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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
More like 3.5 stars. The author makes some surprising and interesting connections between "hits" and human nature. As I described it to a friend, it's like math [algorithms] combined with human behavior, economics and a pinch of luck in most cases. I always enjoy through-line studies that include both hard data and anecdotes.
Audiobook. Enjoyed the book’s anecdotes and research on what makes something a “hit”, even if it makes you feel a bit ashamed of what we as humans like and how predictable we are.
Definitely recommend this book. Fascinating look at what drives something to a place of popularity. Bottom line: there's nothing new under the sun, and that's ok, because people don't really want new...they just want a play on something familiar.
Hit Makers: The Science of Popularity in an age of Distraction
Quote heavy review because it was a very quotable book.
We think we know why we like something. Hit Makers explores the various sciences dedicated to tricking the brain and setting preference before you even experience something.
According to Author Derek Thompson, nearly blind German scientist Gustav Fechner (Psychology grand parent) is a reasonable place to start in this story. Fechner ran tests on locals in an attempt to draw conclusions about the laws of attraction and beauty. Asking people about similar basic objects (rectangles) he requested they select the ‘most beautiful’ and then drew conclusions which could never be repeated again.
Sounds silly. But critical.. The basis lives here in the simplicity of showing the objects and eliciting feedback, along with the golden ratio (of course). Hit Makers follows the thread, recognizing work over the years which identify that beauty, preference, popularity, can almost be scripted. Percentage based popularity can be biased easily to whatever you might choose. Make one question their personal tastes and personal favorite, as well as songs they sing along to in the car.
Preference leans toward familiarity, or “the mere exposure effect” can take this popular view past objects. Politics for example uses #messagingtactics which repeat and bring familiarity without actually informing. From the book, “In politics as in any industry, there is a product, a marketing strategy, and a buying opportunity ( a politician, a campaign, and a vote). Advertising is most powerful when the consumers are clueless.”
Probably the most interesting concepts laid forth in Hit Makers
- MAYA: Most Advanced Yet Acceptable. People gravitate to products that are “Bold yet instantly comprehensible [...] It is something new, challenging, or surprising that opens a door into a feeling of comfort, meaning, or familiarity. An aesthetic Ah-ha moment.”
- Vicarious Goal Fulfillment. “Merely considering something that’s good for you satisfies a goal and grants license to indulge.
Quote heavy review because it was a very quotable book.
We think we know why we like something. Hit Makers explores the various sciences dedicated to tricking the brain and setting preference before you even experience something.
According to Author Derek Thompson, nearly blind German scientist Gustav Fechner (Psychology grand parent) is a reasonable place to start in this story. Fechner ran tests on locals in an attempt to draw conclusions about the laws of attraction and beauty. Asking people about similar basic objects (rectangles) he requested they select the ‘most beautiful’ and then drew conclusions which could never be repeated again.
Sounds silly. But critical.. The basis lives here in the simplicity of showing the objects and eliciting feedback, along with the golden ratio (of course). Hit Makers follows the thread, recognizing work over the years which identify that beauty, preference, popularity, can almost be scripted. Percentage based popularity can be biased easily to whatever you might choose. Make one question their personal tastes and personal favorite, as well as songs they sing along to in the car.
Preference leans toward familiarity, or “the mere exposure effect” can take this popular view past objects. Politics for example uses #messagingtactics which repeat and bring familiarity without actually informing. From the book, “In politics as in any industry, there is a product, a marketing strategy, and a buying opportunity ( a politician, a campaign, and a vote). Advertising is most powerful when the consumers are clueless.”
Probably the most interesting concepts laid forth in Hit Makers
- MAYA: Most Advanced Yet Acceptable. People gravitate to products that are “Bold yet instantly comprehensible [...] It is something new, challenging, or surprising that opens a door into a feeling of comfort, meaning, or familiarity. An aesthetic Ah-ha moment.”
- Vicarious Goal Fulfillment. “Merely considering something that’s good for you satisfies a goal and grants license to indulge.
SO good! This is the best kind of non-fiction. More detailed review here: http://everyday-reading.com/2017-summer-reading-guide-fantastic-non-fiction/
Not a topic I would normally choose to read about, but I picked it up because I'm a fan of the author. Thompson's writing style is really approachable, and in Hit Makers he was able to pack a lot of research and historical context into a fun-to-read story.
Also - Love the table of contents format! I realize that seems like a small thing but it makes future re-reads so much easier :)
Also - Love the table of contents format! I realize that seems like a small thing but it makes future re-reads so much easier :)
Cuando uno dice "las cosas pasan por algo" casi siempre lo dice con algún sentido seudo filosófico, pensando en la imposibilidad de, muchas veces definir la razón o las causas de algún acontecimiento. este libro levanta la cortina detrás de los negocios de la industria comercial mundial, principalmente el entretenimiento, y nos cuenta por qué nos gusta lo que nos gusta, en todos los sentidos posibles.