This is another outstanding product of professor niall fergusons impressive ability to bring together disparate historical subjects and through analysis draw lessons. Mar 09, 2018 while ferguson doesnt explicitly refer to the streetlight effect in his new book, the square and the tower. Networks, hierarchies and the struggle for global power 01 by ferguson, niall isbn. Sep 24, 2017 the square and the tower by niall ferguson is published by allen lane. Networks and power, from the freemasons to facebook, this in fact is. Access a free summary of the square and the tower, by niall ferguson and 20,000 other business, leadership and nonfiction books on getabstract.
At the hoover institution earlier this month, ferguson spoke to jack goldsmith about why historians have glossed over networks, the rightful place of networks in the study of history, and what the modern dominance. Niall ferguson its ok for china to harm the world in order. 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. Networks, hierarchies and the struggle for global power is a book by niall ferguson, published in 2018 by penguin books, where he explains how those at the top of the towers of power have been overstated and the influence of the social networks down below, in the town squares has been underestimated. Niall fergusons the square and the tower hoover institution. As a software engineer steeped in the theory and practice of networks, i was deeply impressed by this books insights. Networks and power from the freemasons to facebook penguin, goes a. The square and the tower free summary by niall ferguson. He discusses why its important to understand networks, and how. Networks and power, from the freemasons to facebook.
A distraction is the manner in which ferguson organizes his bibliography. Our networked lives are often seen as a product of the recent past. This obviously make searching to learn his sources move complicated. Governments and other hierarchies are stable, suggests the author, building on insights by henry kissinger, to the extent that they are flexible in the face of changing conditions. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The square and the tower by niall ferguson, 9780141984810, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Fergusons findings are that there is a continuum of hierarchical structures as well as social networks. In this episode of the making sense podcast, sam harris speaks with niall ferguson about his new book the square and the tower. Niall fergusons the square and the tower is a history of. They discuss his career as a writer, networks and hierarchies, how history gets written, the similarity between the 16th century and the 21st, the role of social media in the 2016 presidential election, the. Niall fergusons the square and the tower examines networks and power.
Networks and power, from the freemasons to facebook ferguson, niall on. On the one hand the book meets the occams razor standard of being eloquent, on the other hand it. Even on the internet, whats old is new again the new. Networks and power, from the freemasons to facebook, penguin press, n. 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.
Historian niall ferguson, the author of bestselling books such as the ascent of money and the square and the tower, talks with recodes kara swisher about his new pbs series, networld, which explores the history and science of networks. Networks, hierarchies and the struggle for global power is an attempt at explaining the interconnectivity of the world we live in through the lens of history, while also keeping an eye on the near future. Providing a sweeping overview of western history, from the birth of the printing press to the election of donald trump, the square and the tower 2018 offers a compelling argument that networks have been a key driver of historical change for a very long time and will only become more important. Professor ferguson discusses the significance of the increasing complexity of modern society. Niall ferguson and peter robinson discuss networks and hierarchies throughout. But in the square and the tower, niall ferguson argues that social networks are nothing new. Is niall ferguson right and was freemasonry the key to. The books discusses how features of networks and hierarchies relate to history, including the writing of history. Niall ferguson is the author of the square and the tower. Niall ferguson the square and the tower professor nerdster. He is senior fellow at the hoover institution, stanford. From the printers and preachers who made the reformation to the freemasons who led the american revolution, it was the networkers who disrupted the old order of popes and kings.
Networks and power, from the freemasons to facebook, this in fact is the human. He lists references separately for each chapter instead of in one alphabetical list. Niall ferguson is one of the worlds most renowned historians. He is also a senior fellow at the hoover institution, stanford university, and a. He talks with jason howell about how silicon valley has important lessons to learn from history. But in the square and the towerniall ferguson argues that social networks are. His aim is to highlight and correct this historical oversight. Networks, hierarchies and the struggle for global power is an attempt at explaining the inter. The square and the tower raises the question of just how much the unruly world should be governedand by whom. A new book by prolific historian niall ferguson, the square and the tower. But in his ambitious new book, the square and the tower, he claims that historians have paid too little. A brilliant recasting of the turning points in world history, including the one were living through, as a collision.
Niall ferguson s the square and the tower brilliantly illuminates the great power struggle between networks and hierarchies that is raging around the world today. The square and the tower by niall ferguson penguin books. In this groundbreaking new series hosted by niall ferguson and based on his bestselling book the square and the tower, ferguson visits network theorists, social scientists and data analysts to. With social networks like facebook and twitter in abundance, the effects of networks on society in the twentyfirst century are inarguable. Illustration by jillian tamaki the historian, biographer and author, most recently, of the square and the tower owns books by people who have insulted him in print.
Peter frankopan enjoys niall fergusons provocative study the square and the tower to the ambitious outsider, writes niall ferguson, it is always worth going to the next party, no matter. But in the square and the tower niall ferguson argues that social networks are nothing new. The historians breadth of reference is impressive in this. Networks and power, from the freemasons to facebook, by niall ferguson penguin, 585 pp. Networks and power from the freemasons to facebook penguin, goes a long way toward redressing this pervasive lack. The square and the tower is an excellent book written by historian and writer niall ferguson about networks and hierarchies. Niall ferguson, the prolific historian and broadcaster, is no conspiracy theorist. This is another outstanding product of professor niall ferguson s impressive ability to bring together disparate historical subjects and through analysis draw lessons and conclusions relevant to todays current pressing issues. By the same token, ferguson is scornful of hierarchs who use the tools of networkers ineptly, such as the data mavens who botched the affordable care act computer systems. The great and the good in his latest book, the square and the tower, niall ferguson shows his distrust for the classical liberal assumption that unplanned activity is often beneficent. Networks, hierarchies and the struggle for global power by niall ferguson is published by allen lane. Buy it at a 58% discount by clicking here or order in kindle edition at a 47%. Niall ferguson, one of the worlds bestknown historians, claims that his colleagues have long been victims of a bias known as the drunkard. While ferguson doesnt explicitly refer to the streetlight effect in his new book, the square and the tower.
One of the worlds most renowned historians, niall fergusons past pbs series include civilization. The historian niall fergusons new book goes a long way toward. The square and the tower by niall ferguson, networks the square tower hierarchies interestingly ferguson points out that networks historically thought of as the powerless unwashed masses did in fact disrupt hierarchies throughout history on a regular basis for instance the french american and russian revolutions to name a couple. The square and the tower audiobook by niall ferguson. The 21st century has been hailed as the networked age. Providing a sweeping overview of western history, from the birth of the printing press to the election of donald trump, the square. Throughout history our societies have worked through networks and fergusons new book is a history of this. Niall ferguson has again written a brilliant book, wrote deirdre mccloskey in the wall street journal, this time in defence of traditional topdown principles of governing the wild market and the wilder international order.
Niall ferguson the square and the tower there is the square and the tower. He talks with jason howell about how silicon valley has important les. He is also a visiting professor at tsinghua university, beijing, and the dillervon furstenberg family foundation. Historian niall ferguson argued that networks of people have impacted history more than hierarchies. Networks and power from the freemasons to facebook. The square and the tower by niall ferguson, networks the square tower hierarchies interestingly ferguson points out that networks historically thought of as the powerless unwashed masses did in fact disrupt hierarchies throughout history on a regular basis for instance the french american and russian revolutions to name a couple, even. However, niall ferguson, author of the square and the tower, argues that networks are not a new phenomenon and have been impacting human culture from the beginning of history. The square and the tower by niall ferguson, networks the square tower hierarchies interestingly ferguson points out that networks historically thought of. Networks, hierarchies and the struggle for global power is a book by niall ferguson, published in 2018 by penguin books, where he. Networks, hierarchies and the struggle for global power by ferguson, niall isbn. He is the author of paper and iron, the house of rothschild, the pity of war, the cash nexus, empire, colossus, the war of the world, the ascent of money, high financier, civilization, the great degeneration, kissinger, 19231968. In this groundbreaking new series hosted by niall ferguson and based on his bestselling book the square and the tower, ferguson visits network theorists, social scientists and data analysts. He is also a senior fellow at the hoover institution, stanford university, and a senior research fellow at jesus college, oxford.
Niall fergusons the square and the tower is a history. Throughout history, hierarchies housed in high towers have claimed to rule, but often real power has. After all, didnt the internet, social media, globalized trade and international terrorist networks first emerge in the late twentieth century. At the hoover institution earlier this month, ferguson spoke to jack goldsmith about why historians have glossed over networks, the rightful place of networks in.
Niall fergusons latest book is the square and the tower. Niall ferguson its ok for china to harm the world in. Networks and power, from the freemasons to facebook by niall ferguson is a study in brilliant contrasts. Making profitable use of information science, ferguson offers a novel way of examining data that will be highly intriguing to students of history and current affairs. The tower is the intellectual elite and the square is the general public in this metaphor.
However, niall ferguson, author of the square and the tower, argues that networks are not a new phenomenon and have been impacting. The square and the tower by niall ferguson is published by allen lane. Networks, hierarchies and the struggle for power, that the powerful role of networks has often been overlooked. Jan 16, 2018 niall ferguson is one of the worlds most renowned historians.
The twentyfirst century has been hailed as the networked age. The 21st century has been hailed as the age of networks. He is the author of the square and the tower, paper and iron, the house of rothschild, the pity of war, the cash nexus, empire, niall fergusons networld. Apr 09, 2020 niall ferguson s latest book is the square and the tower. Jan 11, 2018 a new book by prolific historian niall ferguson, the square and the tower. The west and the rest, the ascent of money and the war of the world, all coproduced with wnet. Niall ferguson argues in his new book, the square and the tower.
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