The Square and the Tower: Networks and Power, from the Freemasons to Facebook book Niall Ferguson
By Niall FergusonThe Square and the Tower: Networks and Power, from the Freemasons to Facebook book Niall Ferguson
Most history is hierarchical: it's about emperors, presidents, prime ministers and field marshals. It's about states, armies and corporations. It's about orders from on high. Even history "from below" is often about trade unions and workers' parties. But what if that's simply because hierarchical institutions create the archives that historians rely on? What if we are missing the informal, less well documented social networks that are the true sources of power and drivers of change?
The 21st century has been hailed as the Age of Networks. However, in The Square and the Tower, Niall Ferguson argues that networks have always been with us, from the structure of the brain to the food chain, from the family tree to freemasonry. Throughout history, hierarchies housed in high towers have claimed to rule, but often real power has resided in the networks in the town square below. For it is networks that tend to innovate. And it is through networks that revolutionary ideas can contagiously spread. Just because conspiracy theorists like to fantasize about such networks doesn't mean they are not real.
From the cults of ancient Rome to the dynasties of the Renaissance, from the founding fathers to Facebook, The Square and the Tower tells the story of the rise, fall and rise of networks, and shows how network theory--concepts such as clustering, degrees of separation, weak ties, contagions and phase transitions--can transform our understanding of both the past and the present.
Just as The Ascent of Money put Wall Street into historical perspective, so The Square and the Tower does the same for Silicon Valley. And it offers a bold prediction about which hierarchies will withstand this latest wave of network disruption--and which will be toppled.
Book details
- Paperback
- 610 pages
- English
- 0735222916
- 9780735222915
About Niall Ferguson
niall ferguson is one of the world's most renowned historians and author of numerous books, including the square and the tower, the ascent of money, and ci Read More about Niall Ferguson
More Books By Niall Ferguson
The Cash Nexus: Money and Power in the Modern World, 1700-2000 book by Niall Ferguson
New Book
High Financier: The Lives and Time of Siegmund Warburg book by Niall Ferguson
New Book
The Square and the Tower: Networks and Power, from the Freemasons to Facebook book Niall Ferguson
New Book
The House of Rothschild #1: The House of Rothschild, Vol 1: Money's Prophets, 1798-1848 book by Niall Ferguson
New Book
The War of the World: Twentieth-Century Conflict and the Descent of the West book by Niall Ferguson
New Book
The Ascent of Money: A Financial History of the World book by Niall Ferguson
New Book
People who bought this also bought
Upsetting the status quo: How to become a carrier of revival to your generation
Used Book
The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win book by Maria Konnikova
New Book
A Ghost In The Throat By Doireann Ni Ghriofa (Uncorrected Proof)
Used Book
In the Kitchen with Rosie: Oprah's Favorite Recipes book by Rosie Daley
Used Book
Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science book by Atul Gawande
New Book
Select Editions: Magic Hour, The Town That Came A-Courtin, The Sunflower, Dead Simple (Volume 285)
Used Book
The Daily Dad: 366 Meditations on Parenting, Love, and Raising Great Kids book by Ryan Holiday
New Book
Unscripted: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Entrepreneurship book by M.J. DeMarco
New Book
The Fall of Heaven: The Pahlavis and the Final Days of Imperial Iran book by Andrew Scott Cooper
New Book
Ishi's Brain: In Search of America's Last Wild Indian book by Orin Starn
Used Book
Millionaire Success Habits: The Gateway to Wealth and Prosperity book by Dean Graziosi
New Book
What to Expect the Second Year: From 12 to 24 Months book by Heidi Murkoff
New Book
Winning the Brain Race: A Bold Plan to Make Our Schools Competitive
Used Book
Better Homes and Gardens Complete Quick and Easy Cookbook
Used Book
Of Wheels and Wings: Thoughts on the Death of a Son book by John Wesley White
Used Book
The Decision Book: Fifty Models for Strategic Thinking book by Mikael Krogerus
New Book
Everyone You Hate Is Going to Die: And Other Comforting Thoughts on Family, Friends, Sex, Love, and More Things That Ruin Your Life
New Book
Secrets of Jesus' Touch : Ten Keys to Unlocking the Power of God in Your Relationships
Used Book
The School of Life: An Emotional Education book by Alain de Botton
New Book
Finishing Strong : Going the Distance for your Family book by Steve Farrar
New Book