Linked

The New Science of Networks

By: Albert-Laszlo Barabasi

Narrated by: Henry Leyva

Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

From a cocktail party to a terrorist cell, from an ancient bacteria to an international conglomerate - all are networks, and all are part of a surprising scientific revolution. A maverick group of scientists is discovering that all networks have a deep underlying order and operate according to simple but powerful rules. This knowledge promises to shed light on the spread of fads and viruses, the robustness of ecosystems, the vulnerability of economies - even the future of democracy.

Now, for the first time, a scientist whose own work has transformed the study of "links and nodes" takes us inside the unfolding network revolution. Albert-Laszlo Barabasi traces the fascinating history of connected systems, beginning with mathematician Leonhard Euler's first forays into graph theory in the late 1700s and culminating in biologists' development of cancer drugs based on a new understanding of cellular networks.

Combining narrative flare with sparkling insights, Barabasi introduces us to the myriad modern-day "cartographers" mapping networks in a range of scientific disciplines. Aided by powerful computers, they are proving that social networks, corporations, and cells are more similar than they are different. Their discoveries provide an important new perspective on the interconnected world around us.

Linked reveals how Google came to be the Internet's most popular search engine, how Vernon Jordan's social network affects the entire American economy, what it would take to bring down a terrorist organization like al Qaeda, and why an obscure finding of Einstein's could change the way we look at the networks in our own lives. Understanding the structure and behavior of networks will forever alter our world, allowing us to design the "perfect" business or stop a disease outbreak before it goes global.

Engaging and authoritative, Linked provides an exciting preview of the next century in science.

Also available in print from Perseus Publishing.

©2002 Albert-Laszlo Barabasi
(P)2002 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A sweeping look at a new and exciting science." (Donald Kennedy, Editor-in-Chief, Science Magazine)

"Captivating.... Linked is a playful, even exuberant romp through an exciting new field." (Time Out New York)

Very useful summary of the science of networks

I am now on my 3rd time through the audiobook, more and more ideas come to mind each time. Both the writing and the narrating are done extremely well for anyone wanting to get their head around this heady topic. The author gives a good variety of examples to drive home the ubiquity of the math behind networks of all kinds.

Interesting perspective that keeps coming back.

It's been over a year since I listened. While it was a most interesting listen, I was non-committal about the conclusions. But over the past year the book's ideas keep coming back to me. As I watch the way things unfold in technology, economics, politics and more, I am often reminded of the book and must conceed to the truth of its theories. Witness for example the evolution of ebay in the two years since Linked was published...true to form indeed.

Not just a

I read this based on a colleague's recommendation, thinking I would spend most of my time thinking about networks in the sense of the "Internet." True, the internet is a prominent feature of the book, but the books real genius in its ability to see connectedness in economies, biology, social circles, and more.

Though written for a lay audience, parts of the book may get a little technical for some people's taste. But it is certainly not out of reach for those with at least some techno-tolerance.

The reconstruction of complex systems.

Reductionism is at the heart of the scientific process, but in the end, we must be able to reconstruct a complex system from its basic components in order to understand its emergent behaviors. Such behaviors frequently go unexplained. The realization that complex systems that appear to be chaotic and random actually follow quite simple laws that is mathematically quantifiable cuts across a multitude of disciplines. This book is not just about the internet, although it is certainly discussed. It is more about a possible paradigm for explaining how and why complex systems demonstrate a self-organizing capability. Although it can be quite dry listening, this book presents the listener with an insight into what the next century of science has to offer.

Network theory for beginners

This was, in retrospect, critical for me to listen to. It provides a framework for understanding complex natural systems.
Network theory has seen a boom recently and this book by one of the founders of modern day 'scale free network topology' theory lays it out in plain english (except for the name, I guess). Beginning with Euler's theorems he follows through his own research and that of others to construct a picture of how network architecture arises, what factors affect it, and it's strengths and vulnerabilities. The theory is supported with examples of real networks (businesses, hollywood stars, the brain, the internet, and the spread on AIDS).
The theories also make sense, there's a real feeling of 'ah-haa' in every chapter as layers of complexity are added on. This seminal work describes the basis of a theroy that will be the starting point for a deeper understanding of the world around us.

Excellent even for a Non-Science Guy

I found the book extremely helpful in my understanding of community networks. There was enough science to connect the book to the "science approach." Nevertheless, it brought the ideas of networks outside of the normal scientific arena. As an educator I was able to use the concepts of networks in my own world of community building. I also love computers and the internet, thus finding these comparisons very helpful. Well done and worth my time.

A bit outdated from 2001 lacks deeper mathematical ideas that i was seeking but interesting examples

Good researched examples from a breadth of different fields. Aside from scale free networks concept did not get too 'crazy' conceptually which is what I was seeking. Overall good and well done.

Logical but repetitive

excellent insight into the way connections link things throughout our world and shift our reality from simple personal networks to the internet.
The thesis is intriguing but the book drags at time.

Facinating

Who would have thought that a whole science could be created out of "linkages" between things? It is very reminiscent of the Gliek book about "Chaos", which also seems like it couldn't really make a science.

I guess this is similar to ideas that were shared in the movie "Six Degreees of Seperation". The linkages work seems to me to be right up there with Chaos theory in our understanding of things. In fact, if Chaos is very helpful in understanding natural phenomenon (if not that helpful in understanding human creations, then Linkage Theory may well be the opposite: Very useful for understanding human creations, while not terribly useful for understanding nature. But our world (both society and environment) is under constant pressure from un-intentional effects. This seems like a real good thought tool to understand things.

Compelling

Groundbreaking synthesis of a new network science for understanding how things work. By case examples he uncovers many critical characteristics of connectivity. Examples include social structured, terrorist organizations, the internet, cell structure, ecosystems, marketing, epidemiology, and more. Lost one star for digressions. A very interesting listen, important too. I aAso recommend the more recent The Formula, networks and success.