How is the human brain like the AIDS epidemic? Ask physicist Albert-László Barabási and he’ll explain them both in terms of networks of individual nodes connected via complex but understandable relationships. Linked: The New Science of Networks is his bright, accessible guide to the fundamentals underlying neurology, epidemiology, Internet traffic, and many other fields united by complexity.
Barabási’s gift for concrete, nonmathematical explanations and penchant for eccentric humor would make the book thoroughly enjoyable even if the content weren’t engaging. But the results of Barabási’s research into the behavior of networks are deeply compelling. Not all networks are created equal, he says, and he shows how even fairly robust systems like the Internet could be crippled by taking out a few super-connected nodes, or hubs. His mathematical descriptions of this behavior are helping doctors, programmers, and security professionals design systems better suited to their needs. Linked presents the next step in complexity theory–from understanding chaos to practical applications. –Rob Lightner
Customer Reviews
Quite good approach to understand networks.:
Before reading this book, I didn’t know that Networks theories are with us since serveral decades. I’m almost finishing it, but I couldn’t wait to write something about the book; specially to recommend you to buy it!
Barabasi work is really great. His redaction skills are as good that people without mathematics or science knowledge can understand and deeply learn Networks theory.
Fascinating Linkage:
Excellent read. I’m a systems engineer by trade and although the book is by no means technical, it really drove the “connectedness” topic home for me as the author showed how objects naturally connect and grow in both real and abstract terms. If this sounds interesting- you will enjoy it too.
Good intro book for laypeople:
I am neither a scientist nor an economist. I wanted to learn more about this emerging science of networks. I bought this and “Nexus: Small Worlds and the Groundbreaking Theory of Networks”. I found this to be the better of the two books. It was entertaining and easy to read, and had a lot of interesting examples that were very easy to understand. I think most people looking for a non-academic treatment would find it interesting.
Good Introduction to the Nature and Power of Networks:
“Linked” provides a good overview of the nature and importance of networks. As the world grows increasingly connected via the internet, the importance of networks as a topic has grown more visible in the public eye.
Networks extend well beyond the internet…while the author discusses the internet extensively in this book, other types of networks are covered as well. In fact, it is networks in general that are highlighted in this well-written and engaging book.
Well worth a read for those with an interest in the nature and power of networks.
Not deep enough (?):
For some reasons both this one and ‘The Tipping point’ didn’t really appeal to me. As an example in this book there is this attempt to superimpose the ‘Bose Einstein condensation’ to network properties. I personally didn’t see any beef there
