Connected - The Amazing Power Of Social Networks And How They Shape Our Lives

Nicholas Christakis & James Fowler

Physical

In Circulation

Is happiness catching? Are your friends making you fat? Can your sibling make you smart? Is wealth contagious? Where is true love found? Does free will exist?

Based on exciting discoveries in mathematics, genetics, psychology and sociology, ‘Connected’ is an innovative and fascinating exploration of how social networks operate.

Think it's all about who you know? It is. But not the way you think.

Turns out your colleague's husband's sister can make you fat, even if you don't know her. And a happy friend is more relevant to your happiness than a bigger income.

Our connections - our friends, their friends, and even their friends' friends - have an astonishing power to influence everything from what we eat to who we sleep with. And we, in turn, influence others. Our actions can change the behaviours, the beliefs, and even the basic health of people we've never met.

In this brilliantly original and effortlessly engaging exploration of how much we truly influence one another, pre-eminent social scientists Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler explain why obesity is contagious, why the rich get richer, even how we find and choose our partners. Intriguing and entertaining, with revelatory implications for everything from our notion of the individual to ideas about public health initiatives, "Connected" will change the way you think about every aspect of your life, and how you live it.

What will you learn from this book

  1. Network Effects on Behavior: The book explores how social networks influence various aspects of human behavior, including health, happiness, cooperation, and even obesity. Individuals' actions are not just shaped by personal choices but also by the behaviors of those in their social circles.

  2. The Spread of Ideas and Behaviors: Christakis and Fowler discuss how ideas, emotions, and behaviors spread through social networks via contagion-like processes, affecting everything from political opinions to financial decisions.

  3. The Power of Connectedness: The authors highlight the power of social connections in shaping individuals' lives, emphasizing that humans are inherently social beings and that our relationships profoundly impact our well-being and success.

  4. The Strength of Weak Ties: The book explores the concept of "weak ties," or connections with acquaintances rather than close friends, and how these ties can be instrumental in providing access to diverse information and opportunities.

  5. Network Dynamics: Christakis and Fowler examine the dynamics of social networks, including the formation and dissolution of connections, the clustering of similar individuals, and the role of influential individuals, or "hubs," in spreading information.

  6. The Spread of Contagious Phenomena: The authors discuss how contagious phenomena, such as emotions, behaviors, and even obesity, can spread through social networks, often following predictable patterns based on network structure and connectivity.

  7. The Ripple Effect: Small changes in one part of a social network can have far-reaching effects, leading to cascades of behavior change and influencing the overall dynamics of the network.

  8. Network Interventions: Christakis and Fowler explore how understanding social networks can inform interventions aimed at promoting positive behaviors, such as healthy lifestyle choices, and preventing the spread of negative behaviors, such as smoking or drug use.

  9. Social Capital: The book discusses the concept of social capital—the resources embedded in social networks, such as trust, reciprocity, and support—and how it contributes to individual and collective well-being.

  10. Implications for Policy and Practice: "Connected" highlights the implications of social network research for various domains, including public health, education, economics, and social policy, suggesting that a deeper understanding of social networks can lead to more effective interventions and policies.

Language English
ISBN-10 0007360924
ISBN-13 9780007360925
No of pages 338
Font Size Medium
Book Publisher Harper Press
Published Date 21 Nov 2009

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