Have You Caught What's Contagious

Book Title: Contagious: Why Things Catch On

Author: Jonah Berger

Length: 256 pages

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Price: $18.89 USD (Amazon)

Have You Caught What’s Contagious?

Photo Produced From: nytimes.com

Do you ever wonder how or why things become popular? In Jonah Berger’s book “Contagious: Why Things Catch On,” he discusses and explains how and why things like this happen. He discusses how word of mouth can be one of the fastest ways to learn about a new product or idea. This concept makes me think of the saying “monkey see, monkey do.” This reminds me of when the popular TV show “Friends” made a hairstyle iconic. “The Rachel” made famous by actress Jennifer Aniston, became one of the most popular hairstyles of the 90s – if even got its own name!

Photo Produced From: limeylitgirl.blogspot.com

Jonah Berger is a successful writer and professor whose works have been published in The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.  He is an Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Pennsylvania, even teaching a class called: Contagious: How Products, Behaviors and Ideas Catch On.

This book discusses and explains why things go viral and what it takes to make it a sensation. Having published many articles and even teaching a class on social epidemics (how products, ideas, and behaviors become popular), Berger is obviously an expert on the subject. He proves his theory with relatable and relevant examples such as Rebecca Black’s infamous “Friday” song.

Overall, I found this book to be an interesting read. I always noticed when things caught on, but never really thought about the reasoning behind how or why it happened. This book opened my eyes on how sensations occur and why as well. Many of his ideas in the book can be applied to many fields, especially my own, Public Relations. I would recommend this book to anyone who is in the Marketing, Advertising, Public Relations and Psychology fields.