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Fundamentals of complex networks : models, structures and dynamics
Chen G., Wang X., Li X., Wiley Publishing, Hoboken, NJ, 2015. 392 pp. Type: Book (978-1-118718-11-7)
Date Reviewed: Oct 9 2015

This book provides valuable insight into the world of complex networks. It takes only a couple of minutes for someone to identify a variety of real-world networks and the associated problems, in order to grasp the significance of such a topic. The Internet, the World Wide Web, wireless communication networks, biological neural networks, social networks, and many others are merely some of the networks pervading our lives nowadays.

The book is for those researchers and practitioners interested in dipping a toe into the world of network science. It provides an excellent starting point by offering a structure, which comprises two parts. Part 1 covers the fundamentals of networks, not only from a mathematical point of view, but also from a methodological and informal point of view. By doing so, the authors succeed in reflecting on “the historical perspective” and “the nature of the subject,” as well as in emphasizing basic ideas with elementary mathematical arguments. Therefore, the book becomes relatively “readable by anyone having minimal knowledge of calculus, linear algebra,” graph theory, and probability and statistics. Interestingly, exercises are also included in the first part of the book; however, no indicative solutions are provided.

Part 2 is devoted to “selected application-oriented topics, which are all independent of each other.” This makes it easier to select and teach any application topic without linking it up with any other application topics as prerequisites. The selected application topics include: the Internet, epidemic spreading dynamics, community structures, network games, network synchronization, and network control.

In a nutshell, the authors aspire to provide interested readers with a textbook in the subject area that offers an easy-to-comprehend start “in a relatively short period of time.” In that respect, the book distances itself from other related textbooks or monographs, which may be considered too advanced or too broad and cannot be easily used “for a short course on the subject.” Hence, this book has been designed to serve as an introductory text for “first-year graduate students in natural science, mathematics, and engineering; as an edited volume for self-study; or as a handy reference for research.”

Reviewer:  Epaminondas Kapetanios Review #: CR143844 (1512-1026)
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