{ Networks: An Introduction } by Mark Newman
& { Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide } by Karl F. Kuhn
I’m really excited about both of these books and want to share them with those of you who have interests in science (physics), networks, and systems theory.
Of course, I’d read good reviews about both of these prior, but actually beginning to read them solidified any preconceived notions: I downloaded them both in one evening, meant to check them out quickly before tuning out for the night… and ended up staying up until 4 am. It’s rare to find a non-fiction so engaging, especially as both of these are quasi-textbooks.
I’ve put Basic Physics on hold momentarily, but got 10% through Networks — ~ 72 pages. (Tilde because both of these are available on Kindle! Amazing, for someone who often reads on the go and likes to take notes while reading (without carrying a whole bunch of crap around), and to have instant dictionary access (& Wikipedia where there’s wifi) for learning about new terms.)
As the author states, Networks increases in difficulty with each chapter. Not sure I’ll be able to have a grasp on some of the matter in the later chapters just yet, but so far (through Chapter 5) it’s easy to understand and I’ve learned quite a bit.
Basic Physics is basic, but offers hope for anyone seeking to gain a deeper understanding of nature, “from the ground up”. Just like Networks, it’s easy to follow — no BS. A good companion for an interactive online class like Udacity’s { PH100 }. …And well worth $9.99.
