The Tipping Point

The Tipping Point, a book published in 2000 by Malcalm Gladwell, talks about how ripe ideas presented in a "sticky" way by well-connected, authoritative sponsors can result in infectious fads or rapid cultural change. One sponsor that Gladwell mentions is the "maven" or knowledgeable expert. Gladwell's description of a maven being a person who compassionately provides knowledge to others describes many librarians I know.

Chip & Dan Heath authored a follow-up book, Made to Stick gives examples of how ideas can be presented to make them "sticky", and provides six key concepts to make communication memorable:

1. Narrated with


2. Simplicity;


3. Using Concrete images spiced with


4. Unexpected twists that invoke


5. Emotions.


6. Crediblity

^-D.D.