Small Is the New Big

And 193 Other Riffs, Rants, and Remarkable Business Ideas

By: Seth Godin

Narrated by: Seth Godin

Seth Godin, one of today's most influential business thinkers, writes best-selling books like Purple Cow and All Marketers Are Liars. And in between those annual books, he delivers a daily stream of ideas on one of the world's most popular blogs.

Collected here for the first time are eight years of his very best blog posts, magazine columns, and e-books. Small is the New Big offers ideas and stories that can change how you work, what you buy, and how you see the world.

It's an entertaining snapshot of Godin's fiercely original brain. Who else would argue that Fluffernutter was a brilliant business model? That we need a service that charges to send e-mail? That you can learn more about design at Hershey Park than at an Apple store, and more about marketing at summer camp than at b-school?

All of these riffs add up to a few essential themes:

Small is the new big because big has gone from a huge advantage to a liability.

Authentic stories spread and last, but lies get exposed faster than ever.

The ability to change fast is the single best asset for any person or organization.

Aretha was right: Respect is the secret to success.

It's easier than ever to become remarkable. There's no excuse for sticking with mediocrity.

©2006 Seth Godin (P)2006 HighBridge Company

Critic reviews

Audie Award Finalist, Business Information/Education, 2007

"[Godin] presents a collection of essays that are thoughtful and wise." (Booklist)

"This compilation from the marketing guru's popular blog showcases the spontaneous energy that makes his voice stand out so boldly." (Publishers Weekly)

"Godin is a skilled and dynamic presenter, and his originality and spontaneous style come across perfectly in audio.... Godin's enthusiast-self is the perfect irreverent marketer of his own ideas. Whether two sentences or 20 minutes, the topics provide thought exercise for anyone interested in the culture of innovation." (AudioFile)

Great format for time poor business owners

I'd never heard of Seth Godin until a friend said to "just buy the book". So on that recommendation I downloaded it and because it is from my understanding a compilation of his blog it is quite easily turned off and on. In fact he suggests not reading (listening) to it in one sitting which I found good advice. Some ideas are so profound you need to think about them for a while. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Seth Makes Professional Books Tolerable

Seth Godin again makes a compelling business book while offering some entertainment and irony. Keep 'em coming.

Great nuggets

I don't agree with everything Seth puts out in this book but I do agree with about 90% of his ideas and strategies for building a better business. Most of it's common sense advice that most people just overlook. Some of it is a re-hashing from his other books and some of it relies on you needing to have read Purple Cow. All in all a higghly entertaining and insightful listen. I recommend it to any budding entrepreneur or someone who's is at all interested in changging their lot in life.

Holy Crap Seth Godin Is Right!

What did you love best about Small Is the New Big?

Where do I start. The best mix of Laugh out Loud entertainment, remarkable insights and genius observations about how the little guy can not only survive but thrive all in one place. Thank you Audible foe what you do. I would have never discovered Seth or any of the other authors who have set my hair on fire about the "new" or social media. I had no clue what was waiting out there because I don't make time to read. Always on the go , an audio book is the only thing for me. This is the shift that Seth speaks of. Correct me if I am wrong but i would categorize it that way. What a wonderful discovery Seth Godin is. I'm all in. I just hope my competitors don't find out. Hell, but even if they do, their "status quo" types and I have a head start....

Tom Kendall

What was one of the most memorable moments of Small Is the New Big?

The idea that mass e-mail , anonymous spammers, have ruined email for the rest of us that respect those we attempt to reach out to. Opt out is not the way to go. I am convinced that permission based marketing is the way to go. So here's how Seth inspired me to act. I am going to have my company, all 10 employees , record a 60 second video, all reciting "our story" to our prospects explaining in a fun manner, about 10 seconds apiece, explaining why we hope they will accept. or opt in, to our monthly newsletter, via e-mail. This will of course be in the form of an e-mailed link to the video. However, this message will come to them first in the form of a direct USPS letter, alerting them that they will be receiving the email within the next two weeks. I have no idea if this will work, but it will be a hell of a lot better than the anonymous , disrespectful , blind email. Wish me luck ....

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but Seth recommended against it.

Any additional comments?

I plan listening again soon. Great storyteller!

Fresh Thinking

A great book for expanding the way you look at your life and running a business.

Great abridged version

I never listen to the abridged version, I reason the publisher is trying to promote the book in any means necessary...

But this time it's Seth, and he's reading his own art, I gave it a chance and it was a delight.

I found Godin!

Where does Small Is the New Big rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I'd say 9/10 rubber chickens just because I want room to move if I find something more amazing.

What did you like best about this story?

It was easy to understand, it made sense and made me take a new look at what I thought.

What does Seth Godin bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I like it. The Audio book read by the author personalizes the experience and when you watch a video with Seth in (and you will after this) that whole brain science think kicks in and it just flows nicely.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

In the old days you would try to think outside the box, but in "small is the new big", Seth Godin pokes the box with a big stick!

Any additional comments?

I resisted reading Purple Cow because I didn't get the concept at the time, now I think I may go back and read it. This audio book converted me into being a fan of Seth's (ok I'm cheap) but seriously I like the ideas, I like "rifting" and I like the concept of "Poking the box". (If you're Australia it's not what you think!)

The Quantum Observer

Seth is truly a Master of his craft, Quantum Musings & Observations about Human Trends & what people really want, excellence is always in style.

Dr. Michael B. Dibley
CEO / The 360 Group

Lots of thoughts

As Godin tells you up front, this is not something to listen to like a novel. Lots of bits & pieces of thought that are provoking and sometimes actionable. I listened to a few topics at a time as I commuted. That's plenty! Some thing might be a little off the wall, but they make you broaden your current view, if only by a degree or two.

Required for Seth Godin's fans

If you like Seth Godin's book, this is an audiobook you will enjoy. Mind you: there is no theme or central idea. This seems like simply a compillation of popular blog post read by Seth. Good content, just not extraordinary