Superconnect: The Power of Networks and the Strength of Weak Links

by Richard Koch

Networks rule the world. Take an organization of any kind: a corner shop, a new venture, a gang of drug traffickers, the United Nations, Google, the place you work. They are all networks, with their own rules and values and ways of communicating. Everybody belongs to networks and they make a huge difference to our lives - to our happiness and to our opportunities. As the world becomes more densely populated, the connections between us are expanding in ever more intricate ways - via the web, mobile phone technology and global media. How does this affect us? And how can we make the most of these connections? SUPERCONNECT looks at how the successful and fortunate few behave - and shows that if you want to be one of them, you have to play by the network rules.

Genres: Business, Nonfiction, Self Help, Startup

286 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Eugene · Rating 5 out of 5]

another great book about strong links and weak links. How strong links work and how weak links work (i know a guy who knows a guy who knows another guy who is acquaintance with another guy). weak links are more important for life / business changing pivots. strong links are more common in poor class, they support (family, friends, local area neighbors) but they also create a strong barriers if you want to outgrow. Internet and cyberspace allows to generate much more weak links than it was possible before. Weak links create serendipity. weak links allows to find better things to do, strong links allows to do better. Strong links are traps for growth! Strong links with small amount of weak links are related to the poverty (and poverty is the absence of connections to networks).
Hubs are the places to generate weak links - place yourself in places where you generate weak links.
Cases of super connectors (St Paul, Lenin). great idea + superconnector + hubs = network effect (religion, communism).
Good ideas are the sources for new great ideas.

[Sergey Morovshik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Хорошо описана сила сильных и слабых связей.
Наращивать надо слабые, связи наше все. Сильные связи в основном удерживают нас. Особенно это явно с бедным сообществом, которое варится в себе.
Слабые связи развивают и дают возможности.
Хорошо описано, как наращивать слабые связи.

[James Zhang · Rating 1 out of 5]

Make up a theory, then shamelessly fit every anecdotes they can found to support it. No surprise it's written by an ex "strategic consultant"

[camcollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

While the book started out a little slow, it all finally started to click for me about 1/3 of the way in. (Could have been my frame of mind). Supported by numerous examples of people that have excelled both personally and professionally by way of weak links, SupperConnect supports the notion that a decentralized, loosely connected organization or individual thrives in comparison to one whom relies upon strong links (friends/family) to prosper.

My measure of personal affinity to a work of non-fiction is tabulated by the number of dog ears (e.g. Post-It notes) I've affixed to the pages. I have quite a few in this book. But I've got to recount my favorite quote. This wasn't uttered by a high powered executive or government official, but from a tennis pro in South Africa:

"I don't believe in accidents or coincidences. I think that we will receive in life what we are looking for, even though we may not know exactly what it is. The world is a giant radar machine and what we are radiating will not go unanswered. Our needs vibrate in a universe where everything is interconnected and related. Most of this comes from people we don't know well, as long as we are open to receiving help from them, and as long as we give other people the help they really need".

[Todd Cheng · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good poaching of network topology concepts applied to human connections. I listened to the book on a road trip for free, but there was enough passages that I like I went and bought the kindle version to revisit a few of the narratives.

If I was to distill it down; diversify the groups you are connected to, don’t burn bridges, check in or have lunch with weak connections every once in awhile and share and listen, and take a moment to help cross connect people across topics.

[Kranthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very relevant insights to the product I am currently building.
www.doesanyone.com

[Pavel Annenkov · Rating 4 out of 5]

О ЧЕМ КНИГА:
О том, что связи в нашем мире решают не просто всё, а вообще всё. Почему сеть связей важна, как её выстроить и ей управлять. Книга - не манифест, а руководство к действию.

ГЛАВНАЯ МЫСЛЬ КНИГИ:
Богатство и карьера создаются в большей степени от сотрудничества с другими людьми, чем от ваших независимых усилий. Поэтому надо всю жизнь поддерживать и расширять сеть своих связей.

ЗАЧЕМ ЧИТАТЬ ЭТУ КНИГУ?
Чтобы разобраться как выстроить свою сеть связей и управлять ею.

МЫСЛИ И ВЫВОДЫ ИЗ КНИГИ:

Три элемента связей в нашей жизни:
Сильные связи
Слабые связи
Хабы - это пересечения большого количества сильных и слабых связей.

Именно суперконнекторы объединяют большие и часто удаленные группы людей. Задача - либо стать самому суперконнектором, либо окружить себя такими людьми.

Понимание, как работают сети связей - это наука 21 века.

Сеть связей с людьми из других областей деятельности может давать нам инсайты и идеи, которые могут изменить нашу жизнь.

Близкие отношения между двумя людьми - это маленькая сеть связей. Такие двусторонние отношения могут либо нас разрушить, либо помочь росту и развитию.

Случайные встречи с людьми, которых мы едва знаем, часто причина самых больших прорывов в нашей жизни, бизнесе и карьере. Поэтому так важно поддерживать сеть из слабых связей.

ЧТО Я БУДУ ПРИМЕНЯТЬ:
Буду возвращаться обратно к большому количеству живых встреч, так как их никогда не заменит видео-связь.

ЕЩЕ НА ЭТУ ТЕМУ:
Кейт Феррацци «Никогда не ешьте в одиночку»

[Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is very convoluted and hard to read. It contains too many randoms references to different people in history from ancient greeks to Charlie Chaplin to plugs to the companies the authors worked for. It seems liked a the authors jot down random ideas over the years and randomly thrown it together into a book without putting much thought in organization.

The key ideas of this book can be covered in one paragraph: Human society is based on a networks of connections. We often focus on strong links, ie the people and institutions we interact with the most. However weak links are extraordinary powerful because they spread to different segments of society and can help us tremendously in terms of career/business/romance/advancement opportunities.

[Adam Radcliffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were parts of the book that I actually really loved.. especially the great historical examples and anecdotes. And I do buy the premise of the book, overall. I was pretty excited to be reading it for about 2/3's of the book. Sometimes it was almost brilliant. I'd say it is still probably worth a read if you are interested in network theory at the moment.

But honestly, there were just too many references to the rich business men he knows and the companies they worked for and the connections they had, and on and on.. I got kind of bogged down toward the end.

[Brandon Radaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

If anyone is a genius, it's Richard Koch.

[Alvin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Racist viewpoints. Not a good read

[Stephen Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished SUPERCONNECT by Richard Koch, the 80/20 guy. Eye opening perspective on "weak links" The idea is counter intuitive. This book has completely changed the way I look at relationships and networking, and more importantly this book has transformed my networking strategy. Right now I'm reading "Who's Got Your Back" by Keith Ferrazi that espouses the exact opposite perspective... The most awesome part is that both are right.

Stephen Reynolds
http://StephenReynolds.info

[Alberto Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book with plenty of interesting insights and ideas. That Strong Links hamper rather than help the poor's chances at a better tomorrow, is indeed interesting. Meanwhile, our modern world with its LinkedIn's is perhaps better than ever at helping us develop Weak Links.

[M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

The best popular book I've read on the theory of 'weak links,' exceeding those of researchers in associated fields.

Not all that practical, but well written, with a number of good case studies in miniature.

My rating is nominal and may move up once I've processed my notes.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A excellent read on the benefits of promoting our weakest links and being aware of power of strongest links to derail us.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author underestimates the impact the internet will eventually have. Good read though.

[Joce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing insights into our connected world and how networks affect our lives. I'm off to have lunch with an old friend and look for a new job.

[Elio · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read on human connections and the power of our links and human relationships.

[Kathleen Rainwater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scientific explanation of the power of networking and how to use your networks to your full advantage.

[Murphy Daley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting. I was glad to listen to the recording but i might not have finished a written version. Still, i will use the ideas in my life for sure

[Pamela Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book about the connectedness between people, and how important connections are. It has a good point, but seemed a little too reliant on anecdotes at times.

[Jesse Stoddard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful concepts that make sense of networking, friendship, and the power of “Six degrees of separation.