Thesis Of Small Tipping Points By Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell presents his thesis of small tipping points to a bigger problem in the very title of the book. Within the first chapter, he introduces the simple idea that there are three simple “tipping points” that causes a large problem. From there, he elaborates on his different causes in a full chapter with other examples to help prove his point. Gladwell uses plenty of examples that the general population could pull from memory easily and then proceeds to use these examples to make more challenging ideas easier to understand. For example, Gladwell uses the famous Paul Revere ride within the second chapter, explaining the importance in a word of mouth epidemic (Gladwell). Through the example of Paul Revere and his famous word of mouth
epidemic, Malcolm Gladwell expresses to his audience his idea of what an epidemic is and continues to expand the reader’s viewpoint. His thesis is most strongly supported in the reference to the crime epidemic in New York in the late 1900s (Gladwell). The thorough explanation of the Broken Windows Theory and the application of that theory in New York and how the little misdemeanors of regular citizens that went unchecked eventually caused the uprise in crime and murders throughout the city. The Broken Windows theory presented within the fourth chapter is the perfect representation of how seemingly insignificant events can cause the uprooting of a normal society. Through the use of relatively recent events, Gladwell illustrates to his audience that the tipping points can be used in today’s society. Crime is not something that the general population thinks can be spread like a physical virus or a word of mouth epidemic, but Gladwell sticks to his thesis well and uses logical examples that the audience can follow.