The New York Times bestseller that explains why certain products and
ideas become popular.
"Jonah Berger knows more about what makes information 'go viral' than
anyone in the world." --Daniel Gilbert, author of the bestseller
Stumbling on Happiness
What makes things popular? If you said advertising, think again. People
don't listen to advertisements, they listen to their peers. But why do
people talk about certain products and ideas more than others? Why are
some stories and rumors more infectious? And what makes online content
go viral?
Wharton marketing professor Jonah Berger has spent the last decade
answering these questions. He's studied why New York Times articles
make the paper's own Most E-mailed list, why products get word of mouth,
and how social influence shapes everything from the cars we buy to the
clothes we wear to the names we give our children.
In Contagious, Berger reveals the secret science behind word-of-mouth
and social transmission. Discover how six basic principles drive all
sorts of things to become contagious, from consumer products and policy
initiatives to workplace rumors and YouTube videos. Learn how a luxury
steakhouse found popularity through the lowly cheesesteak, why anti-drug
commercials might have actually increased drug use, and why more than
200 million consumers shared a video about one of the most boring
products there is: a blender.
Contagious provides specific, actionable techniques for helping
information spread--for designing messages, advertisements, and content
that people will share. Whether you're a manager at a big company, a
small business owner trying to boost awareness, a politician running for
office, or a health official trying to get the word out, Contagious
will show you how to make your product or idea catch on.
