Book & podcast collection

Hit Makers

byDerek Thompson

Derek Thompson investigates why certain songs, products, stories, names, and ideas become popular. Drawing on psychology, economics, media history, and cultural case studies, he shows that hits often balance familiarity with surprise: people are attracted to what feels recognizable but newly presented. The book examines repetition, social influence, distribution, advertising, and the power of audiences to create success. Thompson challenges myths of purely viral spread and lone creative genius, emphasizing that exposure and networks matter alongside quality. Popularity, he argues, is shaped by both human preferences and the systems deciding what gets noticed.

Publisher

Penguin Audio

Publication date

2017

Format

Print edition

Pages

352

ISBN

9780141981598