New Yorker writer Malcolm Gladwell looks at why major changes in our society so often happen suddenly and unexpectedly. Ideas, behavior, messages, and products, he argues, often spread like outbreaks of infectious disease. Just as a single sick person can start an epidemic of the flu, so too can a few fare-beaters and graffiti artists fuel a subway crime wave, or a satisfied customer fill the empty tables of a new restaurant. These are social epidemics,...

Urban legends, conspiracy theories, and bogus public-health scares circulate effortlessly. Meanwhile, people with important ideas--business people, teachers, politicians, journalists, and others--struggle to make their ideas "stick." Why do some ideas thrive while others die? And how do we improve the chances of worthy ideas? Educators and idea collectors Chip and Dan Heath reveal the anatomy of ideas that stick and explain ways to make ideas stickier,...

"Double Take is a fact-packed look at how science is tackling stereotypes. In the intermediate grades, students are likely to encounter and recognize all kinds of stereotypes. Our brains constantly use categories to sort and label the things (and people) around us -- both with good results and frightening ones. This book explores how we all use stereotypes and how science can help us to build more equal societies, where fewer stereotypes exist and...

A forgotten school bus finds joy and purpose in the most unexpected places.

A homesick little girl who has recently moved to an unfamiliar country comforts herself by clinging to an old blanket, but when she meets a new friend, the relationship helps her take her first steps into a new culture.

"In a crowded Chicago airport, an incident at TSA impacts twelve young Asian Americans, all strangers to one another before this day. As events cause their journeys to intertwine, they discover the challenges of friendship, the perils of younger siblings, the power or words, and the unexpected significance of a blue Stratocaster electric guitar. Twelve virtuoso authors draw from their own experiences to explore themes of identity and belonging in...

"For decades, behavioral scientists have investigated the role our environment plays in shaping who we are. Based on groundbreaking studies, this book offers a fascinating look at the evolution of behavioral science, the revolutionary ways it's changing the way we live, and how nurturing environments can increase people's well-being in virtually every aspect of our society, from early childhood education to corporate practices"-- Provided by publisher....

"First published in 1967, Guy Debord's stinging revolutionary critique of contemporary society, The Society of the Spectacle has since acquired a cult status. The Das Kapital of the 20th century. An essential text, and the main theoretical work of the Situationists. Few works of political and cultural theory have been as enduringly provocative. From its publication amid the social upheavals of the 1960's up to the present, the volatile theses of this...

Explore the depths of human behavior with John Dewey's 'Human Nature and Conduct.' This masterful treatise delves into social psychology, dissecting the forces shaping our actions and society. Dewey's keen insights illuminate the intricate dance between individual impulses and the social fabric, drawing on philosophy and psychology. A thought-provoking exploration of ethics, habit, and the potential for human betterment, this book is a beacon for...

Explains why major changes in society often happen suddenly and unexpectedly and describes the personality types who are natural originators of new ideas and trends.