I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There is some great information here. It takes a lot of research that has been done about networks and how people connect and interact and distills it into easily understood concepts. It gave me different avenues to explore. I particularly appreciate the practical section at the end of every chapter. David Burkus breaks down the ideas in each chapter into actionable steps that will help you understand what you've just read and apply it to your own life. That's where the real value of this book lies, I think.

The reason I didn't give it more stars is that it didn't hold my interest for very long. I found the writing to be dry and a bit dull. I skimmed paragraphs which isn't something I normally do. Networks, systems, and scientific research are not the most captivating subjects and I thought the book could have benefited from a little more.....oomph.

Don't let the number of stars fool you. It's a good book and I took a fair amount of ideas away from it. I'd recommend it to any who:
- works in a field where networking plays an important role
- is looking for a career change
- is curious to learn more about how our interactions affect us

A book about networks work and how to leverage and grow them organically. Highly recommend!With thanks to the author and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the advance copy. It was such a privilege to read this book.

While most of the ideas and studies were well known (at least for me) what I liked the most about this book was the countless examples of how to use the power of network in your advantage, how to profit from what other people might take as setbacks, to take risks for your business and in the end to believe everything will turn out all right.

Friend of a Friend by David Burkus is a fresh, research-driven book that will change the way you approach business networking for the better. Grounded in network theory, the book bypasses traditional “how to network” advice with discussions of hidden networks, super connectors, silos, and structural gaps. It offers practical guidance on becoming a more valuable member of your existing, often unseen, networks.

Is this really what the best networkers do? Perhaps so, the author certainly lives up to his promise of outlining a strategic approach to networking and then lists activities in order to help you along your way.

There are many, many aspects to networking outlined in this book. It is indeed a deep dive. You can explore clusters, silos, as well as the power of influence, to mention a few. Some aspects will be familiar but I would be surprised if you didn’t discover a new idea, or perhaps scientific evidence for something that felt right but others challenged. For me, it was “multiplexity.” As an entrepreneur in a relatively small business community in South Africa, comprising many small and medium, privately-owned businesses, the recognition of holistic relationships and their value in business is one I value. Colleagues and clients have become friends and visa versa. The author uses the terms “multiplexity” to describe this. It was therefore extremely rewarding to read that the mixing of personal and business relationships not only boosts personal performance but also enhances the innovation and knowledge-sharing inside of an organisation. It certainly echoes my experience!

I also loved this line, “Your network is influencing you, and so you better begin influencing your network.” Isn’t that just food for thought? It certainly encourages me to pay more attention and to be more proactive in my approach.

It is evident that Burkus digs deep, with many stories and references to research that support his arguments. At times, for me, it felt like they were a little too detailed or perhaps, a little too long. But I am sure for others, they will thrive on this detail, and they will appreciate the author's efforts to be thorough.

It was good to read that successful networking isn’t about collecting contacts, manipulating relationships or insincerity, rather it requires forethought and effort, that you are sure to find an action you can take, today, to be more effective at this very important skill.

With thanks to the author and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the advance copy. It was such a privilege to read this book.