The Tipping Point: It's So Trendy

Trends come and go but how do they take form? That question is answered in Malcom Gladwell's, "The Tipping Point". From the questionable purchases of pet rocks by a generation of children to the popularization of Vans shoes; Gladwell gives a meticulous description of how these trends were influenced by a series of events and people. I had always thought that trends were a result of a large pocket book and a team of marketing professionals for large companies but Gladwell's, "The Tipping Point" explains how there is a formula for creating a trend. Gladwell describes the three basic components which create the foundation for starting a trend. These components are the following: The Land of the Few, The Stickiness Factor, and the Power of Context. The Land of the Few is the notion that key individuals with certain personality attributes serve different purposes to advocate a common thing which in turn spreads among the masses. The Stickiness Factor is more of an abstract concept which means that the thing which is to turn into a trend has an undeniable attractiveness that makes it difficult to ignore. Lastly, the Power of Context is essentially the social or environmental changes which allow the thing that is advocated by influential individuals to flourish in popularity. Gladwell does an amazing job in defining an event such as the occurrence of trends in a clear and substantial manner. There are a few instances in which the ideas highlighted were much too abstract to be defined as a significant piece of information but as a whole it does not detract from the main points of the book. Overall it is a great read for anyone interested in understanding the nature of what makes a large group of people drawn to one particular thing.


-Andrew Austria <3