The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point explains the process of bringing a product or movement from the point of failure or success to the point of social fad or phenomenon. Only through an interconnected social web of "connectors", "mavens", and "salesmen" do the products and movements we've become so familiar with over the years reach their tipping point. The subtitle of Gladwell's book perhaps best explains the phrase "Tipping Point". "How little things can make a big difference" alludes to the argument of which Gladwell advocates, which is premised upon the idea that a small change in a product or an approach makes an enormous difference in terms of success.

The Tipping Point is about much more than why skateboard shoes are wildly popular and how crime was successfully combated in New York. The books true worth is its underlying commentary on the nature of human interaction and social systems. What motivates us as human beings is what comes in to question. Whether we choose to stop and help someone or keep walking has little to do with our level of morality and more to do with human mentality.

After reading Gladwell’s book examples of past and potential tipping points will burst into your head. So many came to my mind, but one stood out above the rest. In this case, a tipping point deficit exists and it’s something I ponder daily. Every morning I walk from the metro to my office and pass by both a trash barrel and a recycling bin. The recycling bin is specialized, as all are throughout D.C. metros, so as to allow for only newspapers to be inserted. It’s also place off to the side of the main walkway where the trash can is conveniently positioned. Each day the trash can is overflowing with newspapers and if I had to bet on it, I’d say the recycling bin is fairly empty. Why do D.C. metro riders choose to throw their newspapers away instead of recycling? It’s not because they are anti-recycling, it’s a matter of pure convenience. Not only is the trash can more conveniently placed, but the recycling bin is designed in a fashion which does not allow for many papers to be put in at once, which is not conducive to a rush of commuters. Now I’m not sure if simply positioning the recycling bin in the line of traffic would be the tipping point, but I’m certain that a chance in design combined with a change in location would do the trick.