Linked: How Everything Is Connected to Everything Else and What It Means for Business, Science, a...
A cocktail party. A terrorist cell. Ancient bacteria. An international conglomerate. All are networks, and all are a part of a surprising scientifi...
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Apr 17, 2009
Trevor
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I liked this very much. The main thesis is that science up to fairly recently has been Platonic (which this book instead, and I think mistakenly, characterises as reductionist) and therefore fixated on describing things and their forms. This idea is that if you have a picture you want to study you will learn all that there is to learn about it by pulling all of the jigsaw pieces apart and studying these individual pieces in detail. As String Theory shows, we can always speculate on smaller an
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Jul 29, 2007
Rachele
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This is great stuff. A very sexy topic as far as physics is concerned. And while that may be just a cliche description that I'm fond of using- sex is actually a relevant topic in the field of networks. Did you know that a sexual network has the same topological structure as the world wide web? Well it does! Prostitutes are like google and your personal website is probably like a virgin. Anywho, while the content is extremely interesting, if you have any prior knowledge of networks, you mig
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Jan 18, 2009
Robert
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This is an excellent read. It isn't filled with much technical speak and is written in a very easy to read manner. The flow of the book is also very good.
I found this book far more enjoyable than 'Sync' which I found hard to follow at times, even though both books deal with similiar subject material. Barabasi has created something here that anyone can read and understand.
In summary the book looks at network theory and the discoveries that have been made recently that chan More...
I found this book far more enjoyable than 'Sync' which I found hard to follow at times, even though both books deal with similiar subject material. Barabasi has created something here that anyone can read and understand.
In summary the book looks at network theory and the discoveries that have been made recently that chan More...
Sep 13, 2011
Gendou
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One of those anti-reductionist, complexity-obsessed, nonsensical collections of persuasive anecdotes and loose (useless) analogies.
The main critique of reductionism is that it not always useful.
Some problems can't be easily solved from 1st principles.
The author points out the solution would be a departure from reductionism.
But this straw-man strict reductionist doesn't exist in the first place.
Rocket scientists don't model engines on the quark-scale!
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The main critique of reductionism is that it not always useful.
Some problems can't be easily solved from 1st principles.
The author points out the solution would be a departure from reductionism.
But this straw-man strict reductionist doesn't exist in the first place.
Rocket scientists don't model engines on the quark-scale!
More...
Aug 12, 2009
Chicgeekgirl21
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Linked is about the history of thought concerning human and technology networks. Barabasi uses anecdotes and understandable language to guide the reader through concepts such as "hubs and nodes" and how the idea of "6 degrees of separation" is actually applicable to real-life human relationships.
If my explanation of the book is a little hard to follow, it's probably because the book itself is somewhat hard to follow. Vascillating between mildly interesting and ki More...
If my explanation of the book is a little hard to follow, it's probably because the book itself is somewhat hard to follow. Vascillating between mildly interesting and ki More...
Dec 30, 2008
Tad
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This book’s author explores networks that exist in everything from Hollywood actors to cellular proteins and lets us into the private (and unexpectedly exciting and humorous) world of mathematicians and physics professors. The 80/20 rule is described as it applies to monetary success by people, web site success with Internet traffic, frequency of protein use in cellular reactions, and evolutionary success of DNA mutations. Be forewarned, the chapter on network economy will not be calming at this
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Feb 01, 2009
Anoush
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An interesting book, looking at the math behind networks. There is a major gap in Barabasi's exploration of the subject - it doesn't consider the human rationalities behind networks. Why do we link to X and not Z? He offers the concept of preferential attachement but doesn't question the rationalities behind such preferences.
What are the underpinning motives and goals that bring people together in networks? Sociologists and sociocultural theorists (eg Karin Knorr-Cetina, Jyri Engestr More...
What are the underpinning motives and goals that bring people together in networks? Sociologists and sociocultural theorists (eg Karin Knorr-Cetina, Jyri Engestr More...
Sep 01, 2007
Julie
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Similar to "The Tipping Point" -- it's more academic and uses examples beyond social settings, and takes some of the same ideas further in more depth. Not quite as accessible as The Tipping Point, but also more realistic and less 'romanticizing' of the science.
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Sep 27, 2009
Barrett
rated it:
Interesting enough, though repetative. A pop-cultural textbook for very complicated mathematics/statistics, but never-the-less very relevant and very interesting. The first half of the book builds the groundwork for the information explained in the second half, though for the most part the book just repeats the same concepts over and over (maybe needed for something so compicated).
To be honest I already had intuitively come to some of the same conclusions these mathemeticians and ph More...
To be honest I already had intuitively come to some of the same conclusions these mathemeticians and ph More...
Jul 23, 2010
Jasmine
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Loved it. It is a great popular science book about the science of networks. You can feel the author's excitement as he goes through the history of how we started with static graphs, then came random graphs but somehow they still did not explain our world. Then it was back to more research in studying networks, building models, analyzing data till finally they came up with a model which explains how networks form and work. And of course, networks are found everywhere: social networks, cellular (b
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May 12, 2011
Keith
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Not sure it lived up to it's title, particularly the "And What It Means", and not sure they showed that everything is connected to everything else. But that was probably what the publisher came up with.
This is a 10,000 foot view of the topic. Not enough that you could do anything on it on your own, but enough to let you know if you would be interested enough to dig deeper. And, while I think there are references to other texts that one can read to be able to dig deeper, i More...
This is a 10,000 foot view of the topic. Not enough that you could do anything on it on your own, but enough to let you know if you would be interested enough to dig deeper. And, while I think there are references to other texts that one can read to be able to dig deeper, i More...
Dec 15, 2008
Christina
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This took me a long time to finish. It was hard to stay interested, especially when they were talking about the internet. Even though the book isn't that old, it felt quite dated. I get that the early days of the internet were exciting in figuring out how the networks worked, but they kept sounding really surprised that some web pages have more links to them than others, a fact to which any person NOT entrenched in the network theory mindset would have said, "yeah, well, duh."
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May 06, 2011
Ryan
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Jul 07, 2010
Tommy
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Wonderful and refreshing combination of concepts and practical mathematical models. Barabasi provides a Power Law that supports his theory that all networks -social, biological, computer, etc...- will always grow, perform, and atrophy in the same way.
Just look at how Google does, and does not, index websites -and how your Facebook page does, and does not, grow or die.
Just look at how Google does, and does not, index websites -and how your Facebook page does, and does not, grow or die.
Sep 10, 2009
From Tom Wentz on 9/4/2009 "Caution: As Dr Albert-Laszlo Barabasi, Professor Notre Dame University, in his book Linked, 2002 states, “Arriving at Mass Customization does not depend upon our intelligence to find the path within the Mass Production Business Model" The "intelligence" within the Industrial Age Business Model does not contain the answers. It matters now how "smart" the current management team is. Said another way, the intelligence, the brilliance that
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Jan 27, 2009
Jon
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Couldn't quite get into this one. I think it was the shift from academic discussions of networks which I didn't understand to practical implementations which were so simple as to not yield any value. Anyway, it might be right for someone but I wasn't feeling it and so I dumped it about half way in...
May 11, 2009
Rafael
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Existen eventos de la naturaleza que se comportan como una red. Sus mecanismos de funcionamiento son propios y no bien comprendidos. Este libro ayuda a comprender esos mecanismos y los relaciona con ejemplos que permiten una mayor comprensión de los elementos complejos que subyacen en los detalles.
Jan 05, 2009
Maheswaran
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Amazing book about networks. Anyone can read this book. There is no need for any formal education about networks to read this book because this book is basically a collection of examples, stories, anecdotes, phenomena etc. of which the author makes sense - in a networks point of view.
Nov 28, 2010
Jackie
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I loved this book when I first read it years ago. Now, I wonder if we're trying too hard: Is the goal of LinkedIn to link to as many people as possible, or to forge connections to people who share our interests and can inspire/amuse/entertain/inform me and enjoy the same from me?
Sep 01, 2009
Ken
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In Linked, Albert-Laszlo Barabasi explains general network theory, interspersed with real world examples and applications of the concepts from his own research. I was hoping for a Malcolm Gladwell style book, but instead found the pace of my read shifting between 2nd and 5th gear, so to speak, as I worked my way through the book. My suggestion is if you're looking to get the "best of the best" of Linked, focus on the chapters on network theory and the internet.
Nov 27, 2011
Dale
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Excellent book detailing the science of networks. Much good information, could have used better editing to make it more readable for a non-scientist audience. Here's an example where something with a good message could have been made a must-read, outstanding book.
Dec 27, 2007
David
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An engaging, well-written, highly accessible account of the theory behind networks, and the growing importance of this theory in the modern world.
Barabasi could serve as a role model for all aspiring science writers - this fascinating book takes a difficult subject and renders it accessible to non-expert readers. To quote 'The Boston Globe':
" Linked should be mandatory reading for academics as a primer in good writing. Barabasi may be a scientist, but he didn't neg More...
Barabasi could serve as a role model for all aspiring science writers - this fascinating book takes a difficult subject and renders it accessible to non-expert readers. To quote 'The Boston Globe':
" Linked should be mandatory reading for academics as a primer in good writing. Barabasi may be a scientist, but he didn't neg More...
Oct 15, 2009
See-ming
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After reading Mitchel Resnick's Turtles, Termites, and Traffic Jams: Explorations in Massively Parallel Microworlds (Complex Adaptive Systems), my exploration of decentralized networks went down a very viral path.
This book, in particular, discusses the application of network theory in the context of its historical significance.
The author explores how it can be used as a tool and device to understand cities, computer networks social networks, human-human interactions (sp More...
This book, in particular, discusses the application of network theory in the context of its historical significance.
The author explores how it can be used as a tool and device to understand cities, computer networks social networks, human-human interactions (sp More...
Dec 03, 2008
Alex
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Highly recommended and written for general audience. (Disclamer: I read a book a few years ago about links and networks. I think this what is, but I'm not certain.) The book was incredible and the science is awesome and practical.
Feb 28, 2011
C.M.
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The mega-paradigm shift explained by a leading networks scientist in plain, if elegant, English. Though this book first came out in 2002, it's well worth reading for the light it shines on the current financial crisis.
Aug 10, 2011
Matthew
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From my perspective, this is the seminal work on networks. If you are an analytical person and want a way to understand what Facebook means, why brands are failing, and numerous other network effects, read this book.
Jun 04, 2010
Jeremy
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This book is an interesting look at the developements in network theory inath and the practical implications of those theories. Enoug math for the technically inclined not so much to scare away the nontechincal,
May 26, 2010
Francine
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This was a little difficult to follow at times...my brain is fried at the end of an academic year. The author is clearly well-rounded and curious. Academics and intellectually curious readers will enjoy this.
May 12, 2010
Patrick
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I found this book fascinating. It was a little long-winded in some parts, but overall the concepts of network theory as they apply to the Internet were pretty fascinating. It has opened up some new possibilities for me in my current academic research (I'm working on a masters in communication).
This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in figuring out how the Internet (as well as other networks) formed and why is it some people become the "big fish" overnight whi More...
This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in figuring out how the Internet (as well as other networks) formed and why is it some people become the "big fish" overnight whi More...
Dec 29, 2010
Unit of Raine
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Interesting look at the high-level details of network models and the implications. The book was written pre-facebook, so I would be interested in an update based on the last couple of years' research.
