Linked: The New Science of Networks
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Books |
Linked: The New Science of Networks is a popular science publication authored by Hungarian physicist Albert-László Barabási, initially released by the Perseus Books Group in 2002.
Barabási played a pivotal role in advancing the comprehension of complex real-world networks, contributing to the establishment of network science as a prominent discipline in the 21st century. Linked represents his first book, designed to introduce this sophisticated subject to a wide readership. The title achieved bestseller status, with over 70,000 copies sold through fourteen editions, and was honored as one of the Best Business Books of 2002.
Synopsis
The objective of Linked is to make network science accessible to a general audience by detailing fundamental models, characteristics, and their practical uses in fields such as epidemic control, counterterrorism, economic crisis mitigation, and social issue resolution.
Barabási underscores that the book invites readers to "think networks," examining the formation, development, and influence of networks across nature, society, and commerce. It provides a novel lens for interpreting phenomena ranging from democratic processes to vulnerabilities in the Internet and the spread of viruses.
Contents
Comprising fifteen chapters ("links"), Linked explores various network theories and their real-world applications:
- The First Link: Introduction
- The Second Link: The Random Universe
- The Third Link: Six Degrees of Separation
- The Fourth Link: Small Worlds
- The Fifth Link: Hubs and Connectors
- The Six Link: The 80/20 Rule
- The Seventh Link: Rich Get Richer
- The Eighth Link: Einstein's Legacy
- The Ninth Link: Achilles' Heel
- The Tenth Link: Viruses and Fads
- The Eleventh Link: The Awakening Internet
- The Twelfth Link: The Fragmented Web
- The Thirteenth Link: The Map of Life
- The Fourteenth Link: Network Economy
- The Last Link: Web Without a Spider
Reactions
Physicist Sidney Redner from Boston University characterizes Linked in Nature as an engaging primer on contemporary science, highlighting Barabási’s passion and broadly endorsing the work.
In Science, computer scientist Ian Foster commends Linked for its insightful and stimulating portrayal of the extensive significance and potential future effects of network science.
James Brody, writing for Human Nature Review, praises Linked for delivering actionable understanding into genetic, neural, electronic, and social systems, focusing on Barabási’s discovery of straightforward yet effective principles underlying complex structures.
Business journalist William J. Holstein of the New York Times observes that Barabási has developed a new terminology for interpreting network architectures, describing the book as an intellectual exploration.
According to Blogcritics.org, Linked fundamentally transforms readers’ views on interconnected systems and is recommended as a worthwhile resource for enhancing knowledge about networks.