Weak Links: The Universal Key to the Stability of Networks and Complex Systems (The Frontiers Collection) Review

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Weak Links: The Universal Key to the Stability of Networks and Complex Systems (The Frontiers Collection) ReviewIf you ever needed another good reason to value your grandmother even more, you'll find the answer in "Weak links".
Structurally, his book starts with an exposition on network theory and
terminology, then the application and discussion of these concepts to
real-life complex systems on many scales and applied to many domains (physical, natural, technological, social). His main point is, as the reviewer noted above, that 'weak' links (weak: additional/removal does not statistically affect the average of some metric) stabilize systems.
The book has thorough footnotes, one can delve as deep as one would like
into the professional papers. In addition, Csermely is an honest scholar - he shows his hands when there is mere speculation (you have to see the book's unique pictograms to appreciate the effects)
After pouring through several alternatives, I have adopted this book as a
textbook for my Science of Networks class (I'm CS fac at an elite US liberal arts school), and I recommend it to anyone without hesitation for a readable, and learned exposition.
I only have two or three caveats from a specialist's point of view: The
phenomenological discovery of power laws in complex systems is not unusual
and may not be evidence of any SF properties. Scale-free is an abused
term, and I wish the controversy about it were explained a bit more. Also, from a modelling point of view, I wish Doyle and Carlson's work on HOT systems were discussed in more depth.
But these are minor points, relatively speaking. This is a gem of a book:
erudite, humane, funny, accessible and thoroughly fascinating. On every
page, there are delights that lead down new intellectual paths.
Csermely did a great service to pedagogy and to this budding science with
this magisterial survey. Outstanding in its ease of access for intelligent
undergraduates and commendable for intellectual honesty - I wish more
books (textbooks and otherwise) were written this way.Weak Links: The Universal Key to the Stability of Networks and Complex Systems (The Frontiers Collection) Overview

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The Public Relations Writer's Handbook: The Digital Age Review

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The Public Relations Writer's Handbook: The Digital Age ReviewThis book should be a desktop essential for every public relations writer. It is a manual for all aspects of writing in this field, from news releases to brochures to speech writing to obituaries. This all-encompassing handbook provides step-by-step instructions for the different types of public relations writing and applies them to real-life examples and hypothetical situations. As an aspiring public relations writer, I found this book to be quite effective. It breaks down each type of document and walks the reader through the process. It gives the reader a sense of priority-importance, chronology within the text, what to always include and things to avoid. The writers' explanations are understandable, and the concepts are easy to grasp. There is no question that the most vital factor in a news release is newsworthiness: "If your release is to be read and considered for coverage, it must offer a newsworthy story, stated clearly and simply, long on information and short on adjectives." The authors state their point clearly and simply, just as we should when we write our news releases. Although the descriptions and directions are thoroughly helpful, the examples are somewhat stale. Aronson and Spetner say that the purpose of the lead in a news release is to "grab the reader's attention and compel him to continue reading." The example they give, however, is anything but compelling. "Welch Foods has announced it will market a new selection of all-natural frozen juice concentrates that will be available to consumers in supermarkets this November. The new Welch's Orchard 100 percent Natural Frozen Concentrate products include three tangy flavors-Grape, Apple-Grape and Harvest Juice Blend." (Yawn) It is the pitch letter that often determines whether a reporter pursues a story. So, not only must the news release be newsworthy and informational, the pitch letter must be catchy in order to spark the reporter's curiosity. Aronson and Spetner suggest an initial phone call to the editor before pitching the letter in order to determine the correct angle to take in the letter. Speech writing can be one of the most difficult tasks in public relations. It is so important to understand the speaker's style, speaking rhythm, and voice pattern. It requires a good deal of research and many rough drafts. Aronson and Spetner have made speech writing easier by breaking down the process into ten steps. Having a guide facilitates the writing of a good speech. While it is always important to personalize each speech, following the guidelines can guarantee a well-rounded speech. This book, published in 1993, is already outdated when it comes to electronic media. The internet plays a large role in public relations today, and this book is missing the entire genre. Electronic mail is mentioned once, but discounts it as an effective way to send messages because of "the limited number of terminals with modems that are accessible in newsrooms and the inability to transmit photographs." It is amazing how far we've come in seven short years. As strictly a writing guide, this book is extremely useful. I checked it out from the library in order to write this review, and I am going to buy a copy to use as a guide in the future. The guidelines are clear and precise, and I learned a lot about correct format and presentation. Aronson and Spetner lacked originality and spunk in their examples, but personal writing style is something that will come with time and experience. I recommend this book to other aspiring public relations writers because, as Aronson and Spetner said, "good writing is always at the core of effective public relations."The Public Relations Writer's Handbook: The Digital Age Overview

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