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A review by richardbakare
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
5.0
Malcom Gladwell never disappoints. In another one of his careful analyses of correlation and causation in social dynamics, Gladwell delivers a unique dissection of the existing idea of Tipping Points. In a well structured format, he breaks down the three key factors that help identify when patterns “tip” into something inescapable. More importantly, he unpacks the details so that the concepts can be applied and not just understood. To that end I will try to use Covid as an allegory to explain the three key concepts.
Super Spreaders, so relevant to the containment of COVID. That 20% who 80 of the work or damage of propagating a social issue. Like the Butterfly Effect, a spreader acts as a rippling wave of small daily actions repeated blindly but putting the most people at impact based on our degrees of connectedness. Think of the popular person who seems to knows everyone; he or she passes it onto their social circle, who then pass it on to their networks.
Ideas that stick. When the wave hits the other 80%, it doesn’t simply wash over. The sand, sea urchins, and sting of the fast moving water stay with you the rest of the day. Ideas or issues are thus firmly implanted in the mind of all those it comes across. From a catchy jingle, to the latest hash tag challenge, or worse, a click bait conspiracy theory link haphazardly passed around social media. Those sticky ideas spread misinformation which only fuel the speed by promoting faulty logic.
Environmental conditions on the ground. As Gladwell puts it’ “Epidemics are sensitive to the conditions and circumstances of the times and places in which they occur.” Japan’s and New Zealand’s respective successes in handling Covid maybe more cultural than anything else. Each country familiar with mask use, limited physical contact, strong group ties, and a deference to scientific guidance.
The challenge is how to devise campaigns for social change that target the right 20%, to have a meaningful impact from small actions, and stick once they hit the mainstream. That is the deeper meaning and go forward challenge you get from The Tipping Point. Along with more of Gladwell’s beautiful narrative style and illustrative examples from unique perspectives on stories new and old.
Super Spreaders, so relevant to the containment of COVID. That 20% who 80 of the work or damage of propagating a social issue. Like the Butterfly Effect, a spreader acts as a rippling wave of small daily actions repeated blindly but putting the most people at impact based on our degrees of connectedness. Think of the popular person who seems to knows everyone; he or she passes it onto their social circle, who then pass it on to their networks.
Ideas that stick. When the wave hits the other 80%, it doesn’t simply wash over. The sand, sea urchins, and sting of the fast moving water stay with you the rest of the day. Ideas or issues are thus firmly implanted in the mind of all those it comes across. From a catchy jingle, to the latest hash tag challenge, or worse, a click bait conspiracy theory link haphazardly passed around social media. Those sticky ideas spread misinformation which only fuel the speed by promoting faulty logic.
Environmental conditions on the ground. As Gladwell puts it’ “Epidemics are sensitive to the conditions and circumstances of the times and places in which they occur.” Japan’s and New Zealand’s respective successes in handling Covid maybe more cultural than anything else. Each country familiar with mask use, limited physical contact, strong group ties, and a deference to scientific guidance.
The challenge is how to devise campaigns for social change that target the right 20%, to have a meaningful impact from small actions, and stick once they hit the mainstream. That is the deeper meaning and go forward challenge you get from The Tipping Point. Along with more of Gladwell’s beautiful narrative style and illustrative examples from unique perspectives on stories new and old.