Joe's Book Club No. 1

I've decided that because blogging can be tough to do day after day that it would be fun to write about some books that I have read and can share with you, my audience. All two of you.

And because I like to read, you can be sure that these will be some Grade A, thought provoking books. And because this blog will likely be read by people I know, I will try to stay away from some books that I have discussed with you people and instead will focus on some more obscure ones that I think you should check out. (Also some of the books I list here I may be fuzzy on the details because I have not read them in a while but I will do my best to remember enough about them to intrigue you.)

For instance today, I would like to talk about the two books written by Malcolm Gladwell: The Tipping Point and Blink.

I read them both and let me first say, these books will make you feel immensely smarter after having read them. You may not actually be smarter but they will make you feel smarter.

The second thing I would like to say is that both books are extremely well written despite the fact that their author is Sideshow Bob.

Anyway let me start by talking about The Tipping Point, published in 2002. Both books are essentially social science books but The Tipping Point is the one that was embraced by the business community.

In the Tipping Point, Gladwell essentially writes about how things become popular - when something moves past being "word of mouth" and becomes a phenomenon.

The business community glommed onto The Tipping Point because of what the book's theories and examples could mean for their products but there are greater social aspects to the book as well. Gladwell writes about how messages can be passed along and become a great phenomenon as well.

The book is extremely well researched and written. Gladwell has the ability to illustrate a complex subject with easy to understand examples. And although nonfiction, the size of the book (its written on eight by five paper) and its length (304 pages) makes it easily digestible and easy to knock out in just a few sittings.

I actually read Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking first although it was published in 2005.

And I enjoyed Blink a little bit more, perhaps because it deals with our mind and why we think the way we do. It's the type of book that makes you sit back and ponder why you think and react the way you do.

Blink examines how some people, such as art critics, for instance, are able to tell that a seemingly antique priceless artwork piece is actually a fake. Gladwell looks at other examples of how people instinctively react and are correct whereas others may react less quickly but with more tragic results.

Again, Blink is exceedingly well crafted and easy to read. The book is the same dimensions as Tipping Point and at 320 pages is a little bit longer but not by much.

I recommend reading Blink first and if you like it, picking up The Tipping Point. Both are good and if you are in the mood for non-fiction that is informative and interesting you can't get much better than this.