I recommend this technical overview of complex networks literature, especially the section on network properties. It offers a grounded perspective on the limited current understanding of real-world network structures and their underlying statistical characteristics.
A good (but technical) overview of complex networks literature (PDF). If you do pick it up, just glance through “III. Properties of networks”. It gives a good sense of what little we know of real-world networks.
I shared slides from my series of talks on network visualization and relational data. These materials, including my presentation at The Fifth Elephant, explore the technical and aesthetic challenges of mapping complex connections and visual structures.
I found a guide on hacking wireless networks that explains how to gain access to secure connections and monitor user activity. It covers basic penetration techniques and network surveillance for security enthusiasts.
I examine how scale-free networks evolve naturally to include central hubs, providing robustness against random failures but creating targeted vulnerabilities. These articles from the Santa Fe Institute detail how evolution differs from intentional design.
I explore Textarc, a tool for visualizing text by mapping word frequency and relationships in a circular display. It offers a unique structural overview of long-form literature through interactive typography and spatial patterns.
I highlight findings from Columbia University’s Small World project, which reveals social networks are less hub-and-spoke than scale-free models predict and that favor requests are only fulfilled about a third of the time.