The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell (review by Kshithija M. '17)

The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Malcolm Gladwell’s first endeavor as an author, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference, is an analysis on the concept of a tipping point: why mysterious changes in levels of success and our lives occur and what factors into these changes. Using examples such as statistics on sudden changes in crime rate and the spread of diseases, an exploration into how rumors diffuse through society, and the rise in sales of a shoe company, Gladwell discusses the factors that go into the tipping points of these changes such as the content of the tipping point, the “Law of the Few”, and the environment of these tipping points. Gladwell explains tipping points with easy-to-understand analysis and pages of research and supporting facts. Full of details and explanations, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference appeals to readers of all ages and interests and changes the way people understand social epidemics. -Kshithija M. '17

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Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell (review by Evani R. '17)

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell starts by defining the word outlier: A person whose achievements fall beyond normal expectations. Through a staggering amount of research, Gladwell proves that success is not only based on intelligence, but also on culture, ethnicity, and family life. The book begins with a chapter on the “Roseto Mystery,” and documents how a community of immigrants in America has an abnormally high life expectancy despite their normal lifestyle. Throughout the book, the author explores why the majority of hockey players are born in the first months of the year, why where pilots are born is as important as how well they are trained, and how rice paddies explain why Asians are so good at math. Most interestingly, he explains how Bill Gates, Bill Joy, and Steve Jobs have achieved such success and Christopher Langan, who has an IQ higher than that of Einstein, has not. This must-read book will not only change the way you think but the way you act. And it will frequently surface in your mind as you encounter both failure and success. – Evani R. ‘17

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