The new science of contagion, and the surprising ways it shapes our lives and behaviour
Why do some ideas take off - and others fail to spread? Why are some diseases predictable, and others swamped in uncertainty? And what about the outbreaks that never happen at all?
We live in a world that's more connected than ever before. But even as we see our lives being shaped by the spread of ideas, trends - and even diseases - we sometimes struggle to grasp how it actually works. Outbreaks seem to be driven by randomness and hidden laws, and in order to understand them, we need to start thinking like
mathematicians.
Here, epidemiologist Adam Kucharski reveals how new mathematical approaches are transforming what we know about contagion - from the revolutionary initiatives that helped tackle gun violence in Chicago to the truth behind the spread of fake news. And along the way, he'll explain how innovations and emotions can spread through our
friendship networks, what STDs can tell us about banking, and why some outbreak predictions go badly wrong.
This book is full of magic. It's brimming with clever people and clever ideas... The links between betting and science
run deep and wide, allowing Kucharski to cover some thrilling intellectual territory.' - - New Scientist
'Elegant and amusing ... anyone planning to enter a casino or place an online bet would be advised to keep this book
handy' - Wall Street Journal