Image by jgarber via FlickrAn intriguing book that threw out a good number of new ideas and concepts quickly and clearly. I found his ability to draw a connection between things that, on the surface seem very divergent, was quite interesting.
The thrust of the book is that there are three things that can converge to bring about dramatic and perhaps unexpectedly fast changes in our society. These are the context (the situation), the idea, and the people involved. His point is that very small changes in any or several of the three areas of context, the quality of the idea (which he calls 'stickiness', i.e. how well the idea sticks), or whether the idea reaches a very small group of key people can trigger a dramatic change in society.
The one concept that stood out for me was the rule of 150. This rule states that "At a bigger size you have to impose complicated hierarchies and rules and regulations and formal measures to try to command loyalty and cohesion. But below 150...it is possible to achieve the same goals informally." (p.180). This has proven applications in religious military and business environments. The informal environment just seems friendlier to me.
I liked this book, it was thought provoking.
Recommended
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