Hit Makers: The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction

· Penguin Random House Audio · Narrated by Derek Thompson
3.9
8 reviews
Audiobook
11 hr 34 min
Unabridged
Eligible
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About this audiobook

“Enthralling - full of 'aha' moments about why some ideas soar and others never get off the ground. This book picks up where The Tipping Point left off." —Adam Grant

Nothing “goes viral.” If you think a popular movie, song, or app came out of nowhere to become a word-of-mouth success in today’s crowded media environment, you’re missing the real story. Each blockbuster has a secret history—of power, influence, dark broadcasters, and passionate cults that turn some new products into cultural phenomena. Even the most brilliant ideas wither in obscurity if they fail to connect with the right network, and the consumers that matter most aren't the early adopters, but rather their friends, followers, and imitators -- the audience of your audience.

In his groundbreaking investigation, Atlantic senior editor Derek Thompson uncovers the hidden psychology of why we like what we like and reveals the economics of cultural markets that invisibly shape our lives. Shattering the sentimental myths of hit-making that dominate pop culture and business, Thompson shows quality is insufficient for success, nobody has "good taste," and some of the most popular products in history were one bad break away from utter failure. It may be a new world, but there are some enduring truths to what audiences and consumers want. People love a familiar surprise: a product that is bold, yet sneakily recognizable.

Every business, every artist, every person looking to promote themselves and their work wants to know what makes some works so successful while others disappear. Hit Makers is a magical mystery tour through the last century of pop culture blockbusters and the most valuable currency of the twenty-first century—people’s attention.

From the dawn of impressionist art to the future of Facebook, from small Etsy designers to the origin of Star Wars, Derek Thompson leaves no pet rock unturned to tell the fascinating story of how culture happens and why things become popular.
 
In Hit Makers, Derek Thompson investigates:
* What Taylor Swift, the printing press, and the laugh track have in common
* The secret link between ESPN's sticky programming and the The Weeknd's catchy choruses
* How advertising critics predicted Donald Trump
* The 5th grader who accidentally launched "Rock Around the Clock," the biggest hit in rock and roll history
* How Barack Obama and his speechwriters think of themselves as songwriters
* How Disney conquered the world—but the future of hits belongs to savvy amateurs and individuals
* The French collector who accidentally created the Impressionist canon
* Quantitative evidence that the biggest music hits aren’t always the best
* Why almost all Hollywood blockbusters are sequels, reboots, and adaptations
* Why one year--1991--is responsible for the way pop music sounds today
* Why another year --1932--created the business model of film
* How data scientists proved that “going viral” is a myth
* How 19th century immigration patterns explain the most heard song in the Western Hemisphere

Ratings and reviews

3.9
8 reviews
3kmp Films
February 3, 2019
I just recently seen him talk at a conference, I enjoyed it very much. Wanted to support him so I bought the audiobook and bought his book. He has a point of view that challenges you. Can't wait to read it and listen to it.
4 people found this review helpful
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Larry Griffith
August 25, 2018
I've read the book twice from cover to cover and now I plan to purchase the audio book so that I can listen while I drive on long road trips, which I take often. This is a very powerful book on why we like what we like.
2 people found this review helpful
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Dan Kimberg
March 28, 2018
Some interesting bits, but a little on the fluffy side.
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About the author

Derek Thompson is a staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of the Work in Progress newsletter.He is also the author of the books Hit Makers and On Work: Money, Meaning, Identity and the host of the podcast Plain English.

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