Book Title: Contagious
Author: Jonah Berger
Length: 256 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Everything is Contagious
By: Taylor Jurica
Picture produced by bostonglobe.com Picture produced by amazon.com
Everyone who watches television has
seen anti-drug commercials. The point of them is too remind kids to say “no” to
drugs when they are being pressured to fall under the influence. But, did you
ever think that these commercials could have the opposite affect? In the book, Contagious,
by Jonah Berger, the author
discusses why these commercials have the opposite affect with the support of
statistics. There are many examples such as this one in the book that really
caught my attention while reading. Statistics like these really make me think
deeply into why audiences react in certain ways and how certain ideas can
become “contagious.”
Jonah
Berger is a Marketing professor
at the University of Pennsylvania. His
work and articles have appeared in such places as The New York Times and the Wall
Street Journal. He also teaches an elective called Contagious: How
Products, Behaviors, and Ideas Catch On. This is exactly what his book covers
as well.
From
this, the author is obviously an expert on this topic, and proves it throughout
the book. What this book has that many others do not, are great examples
backing up explanations and facts. In one section, the author describes how the
McDonald's
McRib became so popular. It is then followed up by a detailed story of the
strategies and tactics that were used to get the public hooked on this product.
As
a PR major, this book helps me to understand why certain things become popular.
Being a girl, I am constantly looking at the latest fashion trends. After
reading this book, I had a much better idea of the way people think and why
certain clothing becomes popular. This book would be great for anyone at any
age remotely interested in the marketing of products.
Nice comments. I thought the "McRib" was interesting, too.
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