The Tipping Point

Here's the scoop -  This book has built-in appeal: little changes can have big effects; when small numbers of people start behaving differently, that behavior can ripple outward until a critical mass or "tipping point"" is reached, changing the world. Much like the butterfly effect. Much like an epidemic.

According to Gladwell there are three conditions necessary to create epidemics.
The first one is “The Law of the Few”, which states that there’s a 80/20 Principle. This principle says that 80% of the work gets done by 20% of the people.
The second rule is “The Stickiness Factor”. This factor points to information and the types of information that will stay with you, stick with you, like a kick-ass commercial that touched on something for you.
The third rule is “The Power of Context”, which is all about sensitivity to our surroundings and how it can influence us whether we accept it or not.

Gladwell also introduces us to the particular personality types who are natural pollinators of new ideas and trends, the people who create the phenomenon of word of mouth. These are Connectors, sociable personalities who bring people together; Mavens, who like to pass along knowledge; and Salesmen, adept at persuading the unenlightened. 

He analyzes fashion trends (why hush puppies became a rage in the 90s), the crime rate, smoking, children's television, for clues about making ideas infectious and visits religious communes to multinationals to understand how to start and sustain ‘epidemics.’

It is a fantastic read and should be read by everyone. It would give us all a better insight into human behavior and can be used in business, social and personal arenas.