Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives,   ISBN:9780316036146

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The raise of the internet has precipitated the increase of public's interest in networks and many books have come out in recent years that explore this new fascination. Most of these books, however, focus on some very trite and visible aspect of the web networks, and don't delve deeper into the more subtle and nonobvious properties of networks. In the light of that the strength of "Connected" is that it heavily relies on well established scientific research and presents it in an accessible fashion that still does full justice to the topic. Both authors are themselves prominent researchers in the field, and this fact helps with the choice and presentation of topics. The particular focus on social networks is very timely in the light of recent explosion of online social networks. However, social networks have been around for a very long time. In fact, there have been some evolutionary theories that suggest that our rise as a species has been to a large extent spurred by the need to manage large social networks.

The book provides many interesting and nontrivial insights into what sorts of social networks are most beneficial in certain circumstances, and which ones on the other hand can have the most deleterious effects, such as in cases of spreading of diseases. One of the more pleasant aspects of this book has been the more positive attitude towards the role of religion in society that is not simplistic and provides us with some useful new insights and ways of looking at religion. For instance, from the purely social-networking point of view God can be viewed as a node in a network that is equally distant from all other nodes - individual believers in this case. This provides us with a useful new paradigm, and it would be interesting to see if other social researchers would employ it in their investigations and analyses of religion in the upcoming years.

If you are looking for a well-researched and accessible book on social networks, this is probably the best one that has been on the market thus far.

Customer Rating: 

Reading about Mass Psychogenic Illness I started wondering about whether it might explain the fervor of Tea Party folks demonstrating against improving a health care funding system that is a national embarrassment. I don't think the book will answer that but you'll find it cites studies to explain things you've likely noticed such as how people will start feeling symptoms similar to those reported by others around them.

There is a study of teen sexual practices in one town that will straighten the hair of any parent of teenagers. Political fans will enjoy the description of how Obama used the web to win in 2008. If you are perpetually battling your weight, you may think about hanging out more with skinny people.

If you are interested in Web 2.0 and social networking as I am, this is an essential read but it may leave you wanting more. The power and potential of the internet gets a look but mostly in the final chapter. One hopes the authors will write a follow-up that builds on this book and focusing more on the effects of being able to project our influence over the net. What techniques on Facebook, LinkedIn tend to yield results? What might be the long-term effects of social networks on national and ethnic cultures? What implications does hyper-connectedness hold for democracy, mental health and economic prosperity?

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Whatever happened to formal logic study? Correlation is not causation, no matter how much bigotry backs it up. This guy claims "overeating" is tribal, yet FAT PEOPLE DO NOT EAT DIFFERENTLY THAN THINNER PEOPLE. Fat people tend to group together for the same reasons Blacks and the Disabled group together -- BIGOTRY. This book is like a bad message board -- the discussion is only there in reaction to unchallenged assumptions and preconceptions. No science in sight. Give this one a miss.

Customer Rating: 

People that you don't even know can make an impact on your life. Sometimes it's a good thing but it can also be toxic. If you are interested in finding out how the slightest thing that someone else does can change you, I suggest you read this book.

Customer Rating: 

A quick read that really makes you think about the history and future of human society.