Revenge of the Tipping PointRevenge of the Tipping Point
What it's about
Twenty-five years after The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell returns to the idea of social epidemics, this time looking at their dark side: how small groups of people can spread fraud, drugs and harm, and how 'overstories' shape what a place or a time believes. He looks at Medicare fraud in Miami, the opioid crisis, elite college admissions and more.
Why it's worth reading
It spent months on the New York Times lists and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's classic Gladwell storytelling.
You'll love it if you liked
The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
Blink
Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler DynastyGood to know
It's best after reading The Tipping Point. Gladwell revisits and corrects some earlier claims.
By the numbers
- Readers38 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller50 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz27 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #63 of the 85 self-help and business books we rank
- #91 of the 119 science and ideas books we rank
- #297 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1720 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Practical
More by Malcolm Gladwell
Outliers: The Story of SuccessThe Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big DifferenceBlink
Talking to StrangersIf you like this, read next
The Anxious Generation
Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity
What Happened to You?
Four Thousand Weeks: Time and How to Use It
The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture
The Let Them TheoryExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Science and ideas booksTop 25 · 119 ranked
Self-help and business booksTop 25 · 85 ranked
New booksTop 25 · 481 rankedBooks of the 2020sTop 25 · 555 ranked
Fantasy booksTop 25 · 459 ranked
Mysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 ranked
Literary novelsTop 25 · 309 ranked
Memoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 rankedQuick answers
Is Revenge of the Tipping Point worth reading?
Yes. It spent months on the New York Times lists and was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It ranks #1,720 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 66.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Revenge of the Tipping Point about?
Twenty-five years after The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell returns to the idea of social epidemics, this time looking at their dark side: how small groups of people can spread fraud, drugs and harm, and how 'overstories' shape what a place or a time believes. He looks at Medicare fraud in Miami, the opioid crisis, elite college admissions and more.
How long does it take to read Revenge of the Tipping Point?
About 8 hours (304 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Revenge of the Tipping Point?
If you liked it, try The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell, Blink by Malcolm Gladwell or Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe.