The Essence of Buffalo, New York, in a roundabout way, was inspired by Malcolm Gladwell, and not because his life—like Buffalo—has straddled the Canada-United States border.
In his latest book, Revenge of the Tipping Point, Gladwell speaks of the overstory, or the overarching narrative that surrounds anything—from gay rights to narcotics—and subsequently dictates community-wide perception and behavior.
Even more importantly, he speaks of the fact that the overstory can be manipulated, or less deviously, simply changed.
Of course, the only way that can be done is to try to seize control of the narrative.
In Buffalo’s case, that means to tell its entire story, not just the part from 1950-2010. Because the part before that window—and the part after that window—paint another picture, completely different from the one pushed by the coastal media outlets that have crafted the overstory to date.
In this version, crime becomes kindness. Poverty becomes intellect. Rust becomes creativity. An obsession with football becomes community. And snow becomes (gasp) sunshine.
This is the real Buffalo, the one that like any other city has its share of challenges, but also the one whose spirit has confronted them with grace.
As the title of his book suggests, Gladwell also speaks of a tipping point, as in the moment when after many small actions comes a big and sudden change. (Think trends.)
Consider The Essence of Buffalo, New York, a nudge, part of a series of nudges that when added together just might finally tip the overstory in Buffalo’s favor, showing the country why Niagara Falls is a mere distraction from the magic 20 miles south.
Or, should you be a Gladwell detractor, consider this just another addition to Amazon’s massive sea of 50 million books (or so).
Either way, enjoy.
P.S. The audiobook version is coming soon.
