Social Chemistry

Starred review from April 1, 2021

King (organizational behavior, Yale Sch. of Management) shares results of her research into the evolution of social networks, what they look like, and their significance. She explains that networks are groups of interconnected people that leverage relationships to result in something stronger than the typical outcome of one-on-one interactions. The paradox of her findings is that even though humans seem to now be more connected than ever, one out of five Americans still reports being lonely. The solid research in this book transcends more ephemeral approaches that treat social media as networks (for instance, Albert Barabasi's Linked, Duncan Watts's Six Degrees, or Yochai Benkler's The Wealth of Networks). King's crisp, friendly narration helps connect listeners to the value of the book in the workplace and daily living. Libraries should note that the author's heavily footnoted research may make the hard copy version more useful for readers looking to do further research. VERDICT Essential for all university libraries supporting psychology and human resources development curricula.--Dale Farris, Groves, TX

Copyright 2021 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 4, 2020
King, professor of organizational management at Yale, explains the nuances of networking in this smart debut. She identifies three main groups of connectors: conveners, such as Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who build dense networks with outsize trust and reputational benefits; brokers, like Barack Obama, who bring together disconnected parties from different social worlds; and expansionists, including rock ’n’ roll manager Shep Gordon, who have large social networks but can’t always maintain or leverage them. In King’s thinking, convenors don’t spend a lot of time exploring multiple social worlds, but have deep roots in a few—and pairing with brokers can inject diversity into a convenor’s network. Brokers are adaptable translators, and are the most likely group to produce innovations that benefit the group, making them good partners to both convenors and expansionists. Expansionists, meanwhile, are generous, have an uncanny ability to read others, and often have a larger social network than other personality types, making them ideal for signal-boosting messaging. A robust and lengthy notes section also provides plenty of follow-up reading material. King’s wise, well-reasoned advice will be perfect for those aiming to climb the corporate ladder.