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Networks, Crowds, and Markets: Reasoning about a Highly Connected World
Over the past decade there has been a growing public fascination with the complex connectedness of modern society. This connectedness is found in many in the rapid growth of the Internet, in the ease with which global communication takes place, and in the ability of news and information as well as epidemics and financial crises to spread with surprising speed and intensity. These are phenomena that involve networks, incentives, and the aggregate behavior of groups of people; they are based on the links that connect us and the ways in which our decisions can have subtle consequences for others. This introductory undergraduate textbook takes an interdisciplinary look at economics, sociology, computing and information science, and applied mathematics to understand networks and behavior. It describes the emerging field of study that is growing at the interface of these areas, addressing fundamental questions about how the social, economic, and technological worlds are connected.
744 pages, Hardcover
First published June 30, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
January 17, 2013
This book adresses the functional underpinnings of the now popular social networking phenomenon, and how it relates to crowd behavior, trend emrgence and commerce.
While officially a college text book, it is written in a very accessible style, balancing explanations in common language in practical context with more in-depth technical/mathematical expressions to underline the scientific evidence.
It is not your average popular science journalism work a la Freakonomics or Outliers. But more of a chapter-level reference, driven by curiosity based on specific topics. I found myself handpicking chapters from the ToC instead of reading it sequentially, and got a lot of value from it.
While officially a college text book, it is written in a very accessible style, balancing explanations in common language in practical context with more in-depth technical/mathematical expressions to underline the scientific evidence.
It is not your average popular science journalism work a la Freakonomics or Outliers. But more of a chapter-level reference, driven by curiosity based on specific topics. I found myself handpicking chapters from the ToC instead of reading it sequentially, and got a lot of value from it.
May 3, 2013
This book is AVAILABLE FOR FREE ONLINE! RIGHT HERE!
It is amazingly written--it's geared towards a beginner audience, but is so beautifully motivated and illustrated that it's enjoyable for all levels. There are also optional advanced (slightly more mathy) sections scattered throughout.
It is amazingly written--it's geared towards a beginner audience, but is so beautifully motivated and illustrated that it's enjoyable for all levels. There are also optional advanced (slightly more mathy) sections scattered throughout.
October 22, 2018
A solid, not terribly mathematical introduction to networks (graph theory), game theory, and markets. It is also supplied with copious, useful diagrams. If you skip the optional sections helpfully marked Advanced, you can get by with simple algebra. (Although the advanced sections are worthwhile if you have the background for them, as they expand the content, aside from perhaps one or two of the proofs where the authors seem to have been carried away by the simple joy of the mathematics.)
It is a central problem in the application of numerical methods to the social sciences that actually relating mathematical models to the real world in a meaningful way is very hard. It is very easy to build fairy castles of mathematics that relate poorly, or at all to the real world, particularly once you move away from carefully curated data sets. Many of the applications in the book fall into the purview of the social sciences, and the relation of methods in this book to reality is questionable a lot of the time. There are a lot of problematic simplifying assumptions here, and a certain amount of dubious theory to justify models (balance theory, or the tragedy of the commons, for instance). To be fair, the authors do, in many places, note that accounting for more complete descriptions of reality is a matter of continuing research. But I don't believe they make enough effort to install caution here.
I actually came to this book after reading Scale: The Universal Laws of Growth, Innovation, Sustainability, and the Pace of Life in Organisms, Cities, Economies, and Companies by Geoffrey B. West, but there was surprising little overlap. I found Everything is Obvious: Once You Know the Answer by Duncan J. Watts to be a better companion read for this book.
It is a central problem in the application of numerical methods to the social sciences that actually relating mathematical models to the real world in a meaningful way is very hard. It is very easy to build fairy castles of mathematics that relate poorly, or at all to the real world, particularly once you move away from carefully curated data sets. Many of the applications in the book fall into the purview of the social sciences, and the relation of methods in this book to reality is questionable a lot of the time. There are a lot of problematic simplifying assumptions here, and a certain amount of dubious theory to justify models (balance theory, or the tragedy of the commons, for instance). To be fair, the authors do, in many places, note that accounting for more complete descriptions of reality is a matter of continuing research. But I don't believe they make enough effort to install caution here.
I actually came to this book after reading Scale: The Universal Laws of Growth, Innovation, Sustainability, and the Pace of Life in Organisms, Cities, Economies, and Companies by Geoffrey B. West, but there was surprising little overlap. I found Everything is Obvious: Once You Know the Answer by Duncan J. Watts to be a better companion read for this book.
July 19, 2013
The writing style is very good, for the most part. Unfortunately, there are no answers for exercises, not even for odd-numbered problems or similar. I was also concerned about the reliance on neoclassical-style economic ideas and indeed as the book progresses, there is much, much more "model" than "data". Networks are prima facie a more realistic setting for a lot of economic activity than the nebulous void of earlier models but this is not an advantage if no attempt to test those models is made. Nonetheless, the reader will find some interesting ideas. I myself had previously thought wrongly that Arrow's impossibility theorem was a much bigger problem for democratic government than I do now; under the altogether reasonable assumption of single-peaked preferences it does not loom so large in fact, or at least when only one dimension is concerned.
December 19, 2016
A good read if you have to understand networks for college without all those mathematical, complicated notations.
October 7, 2012
Fabulous and powerful read. I have always taken an interdisciplinary approach to research and study, and this book makes it ever so clear why new areas of study, which are more integrated and cross-disciplinary, are taking place. It is a comprehensive and thorough read to better understand the complexities of increasing "connectedness" in modern living. I highly recommend this book.
December 22, 2017
amazing
December 14, 2011
It's a textbook. I read the first 10 chapters from page to page and skimmed a majority of the later sections. The implications raised in the first few chapters should be enough to convince any rational person of the incredible power of network and graph theory, and how it can make the world a better (or worse) place.
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September 14, 2012This book is suggested reading for the Coursera class "Social Network Analysis" (https://www.coursera.org/course/sna). It's fascinating, especially with the direct references to our connected world (internet, e-mail, websites). There's an excerpt up at the course page to read into.
March 27, 2018
This book gives is a wonderful insight complex inter-connected network which has been constructed by digital, geographical, academic and social ties between people sharing commonality on various grounds have formed. E.g : the hyperlink of the web, the network of people coming in to some closeness capable of spreading a highly contagious disease from first wave to second wave of groups of people, hence making in-numerous people in the network susceptible to the infection; studying a network of countries in political and trade ties, and depicting next move of any particular country to form new links with a country, or possible groups that could be formed in a near-war like situation; how even a bad technology can easily overcome a good technology prevalent already in the market by suitably targetting some tightly knit groups of people; how to rank multiple pages related to a keyword searched and give the best result as per quality ( the google page-rank algorithm); the short-world phenomenon where any two people in this world are now separated by almost 6 levels of separation in our socially connected life; etc, etc.
As the name suggests, this book contains reasoning about how things work in a connected network from a basic ground level theme to a level sighting research interest among researchers. Say it, a management book, a psychology book, a data analysis book, it fits em all very beautifully. I started to read this with an interest of computational study of networks , but later found myself diving into a very powerful stature of concepts and a way of thinking which this book has presented. One could possibly argue that only theoretical statements are not sufficient to state and prove a concept, then I must say that, this book doesnt lags a slight touch of mathematics in it too, with simple use of algebra, combinatorics and most importantly probability. Though at times, I was more interested in the statements and verbal proves than the mathematical parts because of either my laziness to give time and understand the equations, or sometimes, that they were bit tough to digest on a single read.
Keeping in a note about the slightly complex nature of the mathematical equations, which always could be skipped without facing any loss of the concepts delivered, one should definitely give a read to understand the basic working of any form of network existing between people and mechanisms to how to get things done using it!
As the name suggests, this book contains reasoning about how things work in a connected network from a basic ground level theme to a level sighting research interest among researchers. Say it, a management book, a psychology book, a data analysis book, it fits em all very beautifully. I started to read this with an interest of computational study of networks , but later found myself diving into a very powerful stature of concepts and a way of thinking which this book has presented. One could possibly argue that only theoretical statements are not sufficient to state and prove a concept, then I must say that, this book doesnt lags a slight touch of mathematics in it too, with simple use of algebra, combinatorics and most importantly probability. Though at times, I was more interested in the statements and verbal proves than the mathematical parts because of either my laziness to give time and understand the equations, or sometimes, that they were bit tough to digest on a single read.
Keeping in a note about the slightly complex nature of the mathematical equations, which always could be skipped without facing any loss of the concepts delivered, one should definitely give a read to understand the basic working of any form of network existing between people and mechanisms to how to get things done using it!
November 7, 2017
Not so good, not so bad. The book is a good book to take an overview about networks, Crowds and other things that you can read in the title of the book.
I found it too much qualitative even though there are a lot of sub-chapters where there are some demonstrations and is a good read before going to sleep. However, if you are looking for a quantitative book then this book is not for you.
In conclusion is a good qualitative book: if you haven't got too much time is perfect for you, if you want a better view about the argument and you know already something then go away
I found it too much qualitative even though there are a lot of sub-chapters where there are some demonstrations and is a good read before going to sleep. However, if you are looking for a quantitative book then this book is not for you.
In conclusion is a good qualitative book: if you haven't got too much time is perfect for you, if you want a better view about the argument and you know already something then go away
January 20, 2023
I bought this to understand more about network and graph theory and figured out very quickly that I had purchased a college textbook!
I decided to take it on and I am glad I did simply for the analysis of crowd dynamics and how "movements" happen. The dynamics of cascades are both simple and fascinating, and I feel strongly be that this theory has become a core of antiterrorist and homeland security tactics. It seems that stopping a cascade (BLM or otherwise) has a mathematical approach, and that it works.
I decided to take it on and I am glad I did simply for the analysis of crowd dynamics and how "movements" happen. The dynamics of cascades are both simple and fascinating, and I feel strongly be that this theory has become a core of antiterrorist and homeland security tactics. It seems that stopping a cascade (BLM or otherwise) has a mathematical approach, and that it works.
May 13, 2024
More a textbook than a book, part of a Cornell course diving into econometrics and networks, connectedness, game theory, markets and how technology adds new layers of complexity to the human networks we’re all a part of and make use of every day.
March 25, 2017
Really great book. I would suggest it to anyone interested in economics, philosophy, the social sciences, or anyone who programs. The ideas about probability were the best and ties several concepts normally separate together. Something you should have in your book collection.
June 1, 2020
Among the most comprehensive books I've read.
April 23, 2021
Good textbook on fascinating research area.
July 4, 2021
This book covers a lot of material.
November 2, 2022
Thanks to Andy I remembered I read this book this year too.
June 19, 2023
Presents a Unified Theory of Computer Science to explain the world around us.
January 13, 2024
got me an A- in the class taught by the author of the book but boy did i want to die trying to understand all that
January 10, 2015
This book is an excellent overview of current network theory, regardless of your familiarity with the field. The authors do a wonderful job of tying together graph theory, game theory, market dynamics, network search theory, and population dynamics with interesting examples.
Be aware that the book is lengthy and structured as a textbook, so it is definitely not a light read. It is worthwhile, though, since networks are becoming THE structural underpinning of our world.
Be aware that the book is lengthy and structured as a textbook, so it is definitely not a light read. It is worthwhile, though, since networks are becoming THE structural underpinning of our world.
November 11, 2013
Excellent book, with easily understandable introductions in the first third, college-course content in the middle third, and fascinating implications in the final third.
At points, the going will get rough and your eyes may glaze over, but there's little harm to skipping these sections as each chapter is relatively self contained.
At points, the going will get rough and your eyes may glaze over, but there's little harm to skipping these sections as each chapter is relatively self contained.
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February 23, 2012I only read the first block, the one on graph theory. It is a good intro for interdisciplinary social science undergrads to get a first introduction to graphs and how they can help understanding the world, but in my case I think I would have appreciated a higher density of concepts per line.
June 10, 2016
If you are beginning to learn in general about social networks, this is the book. John Kleinberg is insightful including a comprehensive review of most of the literature in the field. This book should be the starting point to study this subject matter.
January 18, 2012
If you're interested in networks, this is the first read for you.
July 13, 2014
A great introduction to graph theory and its social network applications.
February 27, 2013
A solid, readable text giving a good introduction to elements of graph / network theory, game theory, andnrelated concepts.
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February 26, 2014That was an awesome and very informative read.
August 6, 2014
co-teaching a course on social media analysis using this book
January 18, 2015
Dates approximate. Read for mooc at Cornell via EdX. Videos helped a lot need to look at this again when my math is better
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews