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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. At the beginning of the 21st century, 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 Swiss
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"
who are mapping networks in a wide range of scientific disciplines. Aided by powerful
computers, these scientists are proving that social networks, corporations, and
cells are more similar than they are different. Their discoveries are providing
an important new perspective on the interconnected world around us. Linked
reveals how Google came to be the Internet's most popular search engine, and how
Vernon Jordon's social network affects the American economy as a whole. We find
out 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. Indeed, 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. Albert-Laszlo Barabasi is the Emil T.
Hofman Professor of Physics at the University of Notre Dame and directs research
on complex networks. His seminal and varied contributions have been featured and
acclaimed in the media. A native of Transylvania, he lives in South Bend, Indiana.
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