Six Degrees
The Science of a Connected Age
Published on 30. March 2004
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-0-393-32542-3 (ISBN)
Description
In this remarkable book, Duncan Watts, one of the principal architects of network theory, sets out to explain the innovative research that he and other scientists are spearheading to create a blueprint of our connected planet. Whether they bind computers, economies, or terrorist organizations, networks are everywhere in the real world, yet only recently have scientists attempted to explain their mysterious workings.
From epidemics of disease to outbreaks of market madness, from people searching for information to firms surviving crisis and change, from the structure of personal relationships to the technological and social choices of entire societies, Watts weaves together a network of discoveries across an array of disciplines to tell the story of an explosive new field of knowledge, the people who are building it, and his own peculiar path in forging this new science.
From epidemics of disease to outbreaks of market madness, from people searching for information to firms surviving crisis and change, from the structure of personal relationships to the technological and social choices of entire societies, Watts weaves together a network of discoveries across an array of disciplines to tell the story of an explosive new field of knowledge, the people who are building it, and his own peculiar path in forging this new science.
Reviews / Votes
"Accessible and engaging...A good introduction to the topic." -- Nature "Duncan Watts is so clear and so readable about one of the world's most mystifying subjects that he will probably leave you with your thinking changed forever." -- Alan Alda "Here is a wonderful science book you won't want to put down...relevant to an amazing variety of subjects, including epidemics, markets, scientific collaboration, and terrorism." -- Murray Gell-Mann, Nobel Laureate in physics, cofounder of the Santa Fe Institute "Written in as accessible and jaunty a fashion as James Watson's Double Helix, Six Degrees provides a deft, informative, and deeply engaging story of how the multidisciplinary science of networks has come into being." -- Robert K. Merton, University Professor Emeritus, Columbia University "This is a story that is both personal and remarkable for its ability to convey the wonder of complex science." -- Bill Miller, CEO, Legg Mason Funds "Watts's insights into the interconnections that bind us together...offer a vital new framework for understanding our global society." -- Jeffrey D. Sachs, director of the Earth Institute, Columbia University "Watts smoothly combines a historical survey of the field with real-world examples. Well-done [and] comprehensive." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Dimensions
Height: 210 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
331 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-393-32542-3 (9780393325423)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
02/2004
W. W. Norton & Company
€16.49
Available for download
Person
Duncan J. Watts is a principal researcher at Microsoft Research and a founding member of the MSR-NYC lab. He is also an AD White Professor at Large at Cornell University. His research on social networks and collective dynamics has appeared in a wide range of journals including Nature, Science, the American Journal of Sociology, and the Harvard Business Review.