Derek Thompson is a senior editor at The Atlantic magazine, where he writes about economics and the media. He is a regular contributor to NPR's "Here and Now" and appears frequently on television, including CBS and MSNBC. He lives in New York City.
"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, Wharton professor and New York Times bestselling
author of ORIGINALS and GIVE AND TAKE "While giving Lady Luck her
due, Thompson studiously examines the myriad factors that make the
things we buy, like and follow so irresistible: whether Facebook,
TV shows such as Seinfeld, Bumble (the app, not the insect), even
favorite lullabies. In Hit Makers, his first book, Thompson tackles
this mystery with solid research, ready wit and catchy
aphorisms...a wonderful book."
--USA Today "Superb."--Fareed Zakaria, Book of the Week selection
"Hit Makers is thoughtful and thorough, a compelling book .... a
terrific look at what makes a hit, from the Mona Lisa to Donald
Trump." -- Vox "This entertaining look at the creation of
blockbusters... takes on many creators' and marketers'
assumptions... Hit Makers coats science in compelling story" -- Inc
"Fascinating ... Thompson has huge enthusiasm for his topic and has
amassed an amazing amount of material, including many offbeat and
engaging stories. ... [Should] be read for insight and
provocation." -- John Gapper Financial Times "[Thompson] has
assembled a book in the Malcolm Gladwell tradition telling great
stories to illustrate some fascinating and often far-from-obvious
theses." -- Daily Mail "Thompson's diligent research and lively
prose ensure that Hit Makers is always informative and
entertaining." -- Prospect "Thompson does a really fascinating job
of explaining how things become popular, drawing on a wide range of
cultural phenomena, from Star Wars to the iPhone, Taylor Swift to
Game of Thrones." -- Ben East Observer "[An] engaging cultural
study." -- Steven Poole Guardian "Spirited ... An entertaining and
informative guide." -- The Times "A useful survey ... Thompson
makes lots of snappy remarks and unexpected comparisons." -- David
Sexton Evening Standard "Derek Thompson has long been one of the
brightest new voices in American journalism. With HIT MAKERS, he
becomes one of the brightest new voices in the world of non-fiction
books. Ranging from Impressionist art to German lullabies to Game
of Thrones, HIT MAKERS offers a fresh and compelling take on how
the media function and how ideas spread. As deftly written as it is
keenly argued, this book -- true to its title -- is a hit." --
Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of DRIVE and TO
SELL IS HUMAN "Derek Thompson's HIT MAKERS is a sharply observed
history of the megahit, from the 13th-centuy tunic craze to the
iPhone, tracing the strange ever-changing mixture of genius, dumb
luck, business savvy, and network math that turns an obscurity into
a worldwide smash."
-Jordan Ellenberg, New York Times bestselling author of HOW NOT TO
BE WRONG "What makes one song hit, and another, flop, one book a
success and the other, fodder for the discount bins? That's the
mystery Derek Thompson probes with his characteristic verve, wit,
and insight in "Hit Makers." It's an engrossing read that doesn't
settle for easy answers, and one that seems destined to become one
of the hits that Thompson so deftly analyzes."
-Maria Konnikova, New York Times bestselling author of THE
CONFIDENCE GAME "Hit Makers blends historical lessons with
technological & social insights to explain what makes culture tick,
and hits happen."
--Steve Case, Chairman and CEO of Revolution and Co-Founder of
America Online "Derek Thompson's Hit Makers is a terrific read--a
sparkling combination of fascinating stories, cutting-edge science,
and superb business advice. Just as he does when he writes for The
Atlantic, Thompson shares more interesting ideas per paragraph than
practically any other writer today. Hit Makers is a bible for
anyone who's ever tried to promote practically anything, from
products, people, and ideas, to books, songs, films, and TV
shows."
--Adam Alter, New York Times Bestselling author of Drunk Tank Pink
and Irresistible
"I always read everything by Derek Thompson I see, and this book
was no exception. Why things become popular is one of the most
important questions in an ever-more networked world, and Derek
Thompson's *Hit Makers* is the best and most serious attempt to
take a look at it."
--Tyler Cowen, author of The Great Stagnation and Marginal
Revolution "This book is brilliant, a fascinating exploration of
the relationship between artistry and industry, the ways that
everything from immigration to distribution helps create the
popular imagination. You may never look at your favorite film or
song the same way again. It should be required reading for anyone
working in the popular arts."
--Simon Kinberg, producer of The Martian, screenwriter and producer
for the X-Men film franchises "Thompson tackles the daunting
subject of how products come to dominate the culture in this
interdisciplinary romp that delves into many facets of the
entertainment industry as well as industrial design, art history,
publishing, and politics...presenting his case with verve and a
lightning chain of compact anecdotes ....This book will appeal to
readers of Malcolm Gladwell as well as pop-culture enthusiasts and
anyone interested in the changing media landscape."
-- Booklist
"How does a nice idea become an earworm, or a fashion trend,
or--shudder--a meme? Atlantic senior editor Thompson ventures a few
well-considered answers....Good reading for anyone who aspires to
understand the machinery of pop culture--and perhaps even craft a
hit of his or her own."
- Kirkus Reviews
"While giving Lady Luck her due, Thompson studiously examines the
myriad factors that make the things we buy, like and follow so
irresistible: whether Facebook, TV shows such as Seinfeld, Bumble
(the app, not the insect), even favorite lullabies. In Hit Makers,
his first book, Thompson tackles this mystery with solid research,
ready wit and catchy aphorisms...a wonderful book."
--USA Today
"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, Wharton professor and New York Times bestselling
author of ORIGINALS and GIVE AND TAKE
"Derek Thompson has long been one of the brightest new voices in
American journalism. With HIT MAKERS, he becomes one of the
brightest new voices in the world of non-fiction books. Ranging
from Impressionist art to German lullabies to Game of Thrones, HIT
MAKERS offers a fresh and compelling take on how the media function
and how ideas spread. As deftly written as it is keenly argued,
this book -- true to its title -- is a hit."
--Daniel H. Pink, New York Times bestselling author of DRIVE and TO
SELL IS HUMAN
"Derek Thompson's HIT MAKERS is a sharply observed history of the
megahit, from the 13th-centuy tunic craze to the iPhone, tracing
the strange ever-changing mixture of genius, dumb luck, business
savvy, and network math that turns an obscurity into a worldwide
smash."
-Jordan Ellenberg, New York Times bestselling author of HOW NOT TO
BE WRONG
"What makes one song hit, and another, flop, one book a success and
the other, fodder for the discount bins? That's the mystery Derek
Thompson probes with his characteristic verve, wit, and insight in
"Hit Makers." It's an engrossing read that doesn't settle for easy
answers, and one that seems destined to become one of the hits that
Thompson so deftly analyzes."
-Maria Konnikova, New York Times bestselling author of THE
CONFIDENCE GAME
"Hit Makers blends historical lessons with technological & social
insights to explain what makes culture tick, and hits happen."
--Steve Case, Chairman and CEO of Revolution and Co-Founder of
America Online
"Derek Thompson's Hit Makers is a terrific read--a sparkling
combination of fascinating stories, cutting-edge science, and
superb business advice. Just as he does when he writes for The
Atlantic, Thompson shares more interesting ideas per paragraph than
practically any other writer today. Hit Makers is a bible for
anyone who's ever tried to promote practically anything, from
products, people, and ideas, to books, songs, films, and TV
shows."
--Adam Alter, New York Times Bestselling author of Drunk Tank Pink
and Irresistible
"I always read everything by Derek Thompson I see, and this book
was no exception. Why things become popular is one of the most
important questions in an ever-more networked world, and Derek
Thompson's *Hit Makers* is the best and most serious attempt to
take a look at it."
--Tyler Cowen, author of The Great Stagnation and Marginal
Revolution
"This book is brilliant, a fascinating exploration of the
relationship between artistry and industry, the ways that
everything from immigration to distribution helps create the
popular imagination. You may never look at your favorite film or
song the same way again. It should be required reading for anyone
working in the popular arts."
--Simon Kinberg, producer of The Martian, screenwriter and producer
for the X-Men film franchises
"Thompson tackles the daunting subject of how products come to
dominate the culture in this interdisciplinary romp that delves
into many facets of the entertainment industry as well as
industrial design, art history, publishing, and
politics...presenting his case with verve and a lightning chain of
compact anecdotes ....This book will appeal to readers of Malcolm
Gladwell as well as pop-culture enthusiasts and anyone interested
in the changing media landscape."
-- Booklist
"How does a nice idea become an earworm, or a fashion trend,
or--shudder--a meme? Atlantic senior editor Thompson ventures a few
well-considered answers....Good reading for anyone who aspires to
understand the machinery of pop culture--and perhaps even craft a
hit of his or her own."
- Kirkus Reviews
Ask a Question About this Product More... |