The rules of contagion : why things spread--and why they stop Cover Image

Book

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

Kucharski, Adam (Mathematician), (author.).

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.

Record details

ISBN: 9781541674318
ISBN: 1541674316
Physical Description: 341 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm
Edition: First US edition.
Publisher: New York : Basic Books, 2020.

Content descriptions

General Note:	"First published in Great Britain in 2020 by Profile Books, Ltd."--Title page verso.
Bibliography, etc. Note:	Includes bibliographical references and index.
Formatted Contents Note:	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.