Mind Map Madness!

I was given an assisgnment in Design Studies to do two mind maps based around "The Tipping Point" by Malcolm Gladwell. At first I was a little worried as I had read the book a couple of months ago and wasn't sure If I would remember a great deal! As I started discussing it with friends though, it all came flooding back! I actually really enjoyed the book - I was intregued that the same general principles applies to an epidemic of shoes to an epidemic of STD's! I used Tony Buzan's mind map technique which is effecive in creating mind maps quickly that are simple in structure but also cohesive when looking back on them later. The first mind map was a basic overview of the book. I looked at each chapter and the key ideas included within them. The second mind map was to be focused on one specific chapter. I chose 'The Power of Context'. I found it so interesting that specific details in a persons surroundings, however small, can drastically shape their behaviour. The story of the 'Good Samaritan' was of paticular interest to me. The story describes an experiament conducted on a group of seminarians who were each asked individually to prepare a talk on a 'biblical theme' and walk to a nearby building to present it. Some students were asked to talk about the good samaritan story and all were given a questionnaire with related theological questions. On the walk to the building the students each passed a man 'slumped in an alley, head down, eyes closed, coughing and groaning'. The experiamentors were asked to tell some of the students leaving for the presentation that they were running a bit late and to hurry and others were told they had some time to spare. None of the other factors seemed to make any difference on the students playing the good samaritan themselves exept lateness - If the students were told they were running late they majority hurriedly passed by the victim without helping at all. I find it astonashing that compassion for helping someone in obvious distress is completely abandoned by being told you're running a little late for a presentaion, although I find myself wondering if I might have acted the same in that sitution.
I like how Gladwell gave real-life example like this throughout the book, they were all very interesting and helped greatly to show the principles of epidemics that he was discussing in real situations. It was also helpful that Gladwell picked up on earlier ideas throughout the whole book to make each principle make sense in the contexts he was describing. I really enjoyed "The Tipping Point' and I would definitly recommend it.