Hit Makers is a book about the most valuable currency in the interconnected business world of the 21st century: people's attention. Derek Thompson explores the secrets of this currency in an engaging way, using numerous examples from film, music, art, and design. When does a movie become a blockbuster? When does a song become a number-one hit? And how does a video on the internet turn into a viral sensation? Most importantly, how do ideas and products spread? He demonstrates that nothing goes "viral" by chance; rather, psychological mechanisms are at play behind the scenes. Thompson writes nothing less than a history of popularity, from Bill Haley's "Rock Around the Clock" to Facebook. He creates an essential work for all artists, product designers, marketers, communication experts, and companies—a guide to creating hits.