Hit makers: the science of popularity in an age of distraction

Part I: Popularity and the mind

The power of exposure: featuring Claude Monet, Adele, and Donald Trump

The Maya rule: featuring ESPN, Spotify, and the first NASA space station

The music of sound: featuring John F. Kennedy, Barack Obama, and ABBA

Interlude: The chills

The myth-making mind I: the force of story: featuring Star Wars, Isaac Asimov, and Hollywood psychohistory

The myth-making mind II: the dark side of hits: featuring Hungarian vampires, Disney princesses, and cable news

The birth of fashion: featuring Taylor Swift, the printing press, and the laugh track

Interlude: A brief history of teens

Part II: Popularity and the market

Rock and roll and randomness: featuring the Mona Lisa, "Rock around the clock," and chaos theory

The viral myth: featuring Fifty Shades of Grey, John Snow, and Pokémon GO

The audience of my audience: featuring Etsy, Bumble, and Moonies

Interlude: Le panache

What the people want I: the economics of prophecy: featuring Game of Thrones, Seinfeld, and Shazam

What the people want II: a history of pixels and ink: featuring the tabloid, the television, and the news feed

Interlude: 828 Broadway

The futures of hits: empire and city-state: featuring Mickey Mouse, BuzzFeed, and Kid A.

Introduction. The song that conquered the world

Part I. Popularity and the mind. The power of exposure: featuring Claude Monet, Adele, and Donald Trump

The Maya rule: featuring ESPN, Spotify, and the first NASA space station

The music of sound: featuring John F. Kennedy, Barack Obama, and ABBA

Interlude : The chills

The myth-making mind I: the force of story: featuring Star Wars, Isaac Asimov, and Hollywood psychohistory

The myth-making mind II: The dark side of hits: featuring Hungarian vampires, Disney princesses, and cable news

The birth of fashion: featuring Taylor Swift, the printing press, and the laugh track

Interlude: A brief history of teens

Part II. Popularity and the market. Rock and roll and randomness: featuring the Mona Lisa, "Rock around the clock," and chaos theory

The viral myth: featuring Fifty Shades of Grey, John Snow, and Pokémon GO

The audience of my audience: featuring Etsy, Bumble, and Moonies

Interlude : Le panache

What the people want I: the economics of prophecy: featuring Game of Thrones, Seinfeld, and Shazam

What the people want II: a history of pixels and ink: featuring the tabloid, the television, and the news feed

Interlude : 828 Broadway

The futures of hits: empire and city-state: featuring Mickey Mouse, BuzzFeed, and Kid A.