My Account Log in

1 option

The rules of contagion : why things spread - and why they stop / Adam Kucharski.

Van Pelt Library HM1033 .K83 2020b
Loading location information...

Available This item is available for access.

Log in to request item
Format:
Book
Author/Creator:
Kucharski, Adam (Mathematician), author.
Language:
English
Subjects (All):
Contagion (Social psychology).
Contagion (Social psychology)--Mathematical models--Popular works.
Social networks--Research.
Social networks.
Epidemics--Popular works.
Epidemics.
Psychology, Social.
Information Dissemination.
Infections.
Social Media.
Models, Theoretical.
Mathematical models.
Medical Subjects:
Psychology, Social.
Information Dissemination.
Infections.
Epidemics.
Social Media.
Models, Theoretical.
Genre:
Popular works.
Physical Description:
341 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm
Edition:
First US edition.
Other Title:
Why things spread - and why they stop
Place of Publication:
New York : Basic Books, 2020.
Summary:
A deadly virus suddenly explodes into the population. A political movement gathers pace, and then quickly vanishes. An idea takes off like wildfire, changing our world forever. We live in a world that's more interconnected than ever before. Our lives are shaped by outbreaks - of disease, of misinformation, even of violence - that appear, spread and fade away with bewildering speed. To understand them, we need to learn the hidden laws that govern them. From 'superspreaders' who might spark a pandemic or bring down a financial system to the social dynamics that make loneliness catch on, The Rules of Contagion offers compelling insights into human behaviour and explains how we can get better at predicting what happens next. Along the way, Adam Kucharski explores how innovations spread through friendship networks, what links computer viruses with folk stories - and why the most useful predictions aren't necessarily the ones that come true.
Contents:
A theory of happenings
Panics and pandemics
The measure of friendship
Something in the air
Going viral
How to own the internet
Tracking outbreaks
A spot of trouble.
Notes:
"First published in Great Britain in 2020 by Profile Books, Ltd."--Title page verso.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:
9781541674318
1541674316
OCLC:
1135576436

The Penn Libraries is committed to describing library materials using current, accurate, and responsible language. If you discover outdated or inaccurate language, please fill out this feedback form to report it and suggest alternative language.

Find

Home Release notes

My Account

Shelf Request an item Bookmarks Fines and fees Settings

Guides

Using the Find catalog Using Articles+ Using your account