Book excerpt: Do you wonder why some ideas go viral and others sink? Why one political candidate soars while another fails to gain traction? Why one product becomes an instant rage, while its competitor struggles to stay above water? What is the secret to momentum? Many people believe that momentum is driven by emotion and is unpredictable, but as Mike Berland, the internationally recognized pollster and strategic advisor, has discovered, it’s actually a science, with easily analyzed metrics. In Maximum Momentum: How to Get It, How to Keep It, Berland reveals the key to momentum, beginning with the simple physics formula— mass x velocity. He then develops a Momentum Matrix—five signals that decode the science into effective measures. Maximum Momentum is a lively examination of hot trends in the current arena—from politics to society to business to sports. Using colorful graphics to underscore the stories, Berland examines the people, issues, movements and products that most captivate Americans.