June 2009

We are doing something a little different this month since there was a tie between these two books in our survey. You can read one or both of the books and we will discuss the similarities and difference at our next meeting…or share with others what our favorite parts were. So pick your poison and let us know which book you are diving into this month!

Books: Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen Dubner and/or
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
When: Friday, June 26th @ 7pm
Where: Jill’s House

Synopses

The Tipping Point:
From Publishers Weekly
The premise of this facile piece of pop sociology has built-in appeal: little changes can have big effects; when small numbers of people start behaving differently, that behavior can ripple outward until a critical mass or “tipping point” is reached, changing the world. Gladwell’s thesis that ideas, products, messages and behaviors “spread just like viruses do” remains a metaphor as he follows the growth of “word-of-mouth epidemics” triggered with the help of three pivotal types. These are Connectors, sociable personalities who bring people together; Mavens, who like to pass along knowledge; and Salesmen, adept at persuading the unenlightened. (Paul Revere, for example, was a Maven and a Connector). Gladwell’s applications of his “tipping point” concept to current phenomena–such as the drop in violent crime in New York, the rebirth of Hush Puppies suede shoes as a suburban mall favorite, teenage suicide patterns and the efficiency of small work units–may arouse controversy. For example, many parents may be alarmed at his advice on drugs: since teenagers’ experimentation with drugs, including cocaine, seldom leads to hardcore use, he contends, “We have to stop fighting this kind of experimentation. We have to accept it and even embrace it.” While it offers a smorgasbord of intriguing snippets summarizing research on topics such as conversational patterns, infants’ crib talk, judging other people’s character, cheating habits in schoolchildren, memory sharing among families or couples, and the dehumanizing effects of prisons, this volume betrays its roots as a series of articles for the New Yorker, where Gladwell is a staff writer: his trendy material feels bloated and insubstantial in book form. Agent, Tina Bennett of Janklow & Nesbit. Major ad/promo. (Mar.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Freakonomics:
From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Forget your image of an economist as a crusty professor worried about fluctuating interest rates: Levitt focuses his attention on more intimate real-world issues, like whether reading to your baby will make her a better student. Recognition by fellow economists as one of the best young minds in his field led to a profile in the New York Times, written by Dubner, and that original article serves as a broad outline for an expanded look at Levitt’s search for the hidden incentives behind all sorts of behavior. There isn’t really a grand theory of everything here, except perhaps the suggestion that self-styled experts have a vested interest in promoting conventional wisdom even when it’s wrong. Instead, Dubner and Levitt deconstruct everything from the organizational structure of drug-dealing gangs to baby-naming patterns. While some chapters might seem frivolous, others touch on more serious issues, including a detailed look at Levitt’s controversial linkage between the legalization of abortion and a reduced crime rate two decades later. Underlying all these research subjects is a belief that complex phenomena can be understood if we find the right perspective. Levitt has a knack for making that principle relevant to our daily lives, which could make this book a hit. Malcolm Gladwell blurbs that Levitt “has the most interesting mind in America,” an invitation Gladwell’s own substantial fan base will find hard to resist. 50-city radio campaign. (May 1)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

This article reviewed some basic information to keep in mind, as well as how you can find options to order remedies. But, there are companies that sell prescription drugs to customers who need them at low costs. There are drugs betrothed only for children. This product tell more about “cialis dosage“. Is it possible to prevent ED? This fabric tell more about the signs of erectile disfunction and “cialis dose“. Other question we are going to is “http://goodpageabout.com/cialis-side-effects.html“. Finally, erection difficulties can be an early warning sign of earnest soundness problems, such as diabetes. Note, if you have any other questions about the problem ask your heartiness care provider.