Book Review: Visual Complexity, by Manuel Lima

Ok, so here’s a first for me here on Visual Loop: a book review! 

I must confess, when I received the copy of Visual Complexity: Mapping Patterns of Information, by fellow countryman Manuel Lima, I wondered “Now what, Tiago?” [Full Disclaimer: I received the copy for free, courtesy of Princeton Architectural Press] 

Because, let’s face it, to write about a book from someone considered to be the next Edward Tufte, it’s no easy task, especially when you’re kind of an outsider in the field. Yes, I post a lot of examples of infographics and data visualizations, but I’m far from being an information designer, despite the fact I actually use network mapping in my “real” work.

However, after I began reading it, I realized that it really doesn’t matter if you’re a designer or not. Because this book goes far beyond the traditional approach of showcasing examples of beautiful works.

Above all, it’s a book for people who wish to better understand other people and the world they live in.

As simple as that.

Sure, you’ll see amazing data visualizations from some of the most well-known visual thinkers and designers of our days. There’s an abundance of examples spread across the book’s pages, and some revealing perspectives from renowned experts in the field of information design, like Nathan Yau, Andrew Vande Moere, Christopher Kirwan and David McConville.

But you’ll also have the opportunity to dive deep into the early stages of visual mapping, especially in the first two chapters of the book. and learn how the principles behind today’s most popular network visualization projects have come together, with the help of almost all the main thinkers in History (yes, I mean ALL of them).

I’m sure you’ll be surprised to see how much of that evolution depended on  cultural, philosophical, sociological and anthropological factors - much more than  technological ones, as some of us might be led to believe.

It was deeply comforting for me to realize that the “natural” side of the growing “data-viz frenezin” is the important one. It basically disintegrates the question of “Why should we use it”, allowing us to focus on the “How”.

How can the visual representation of networks help us to gain a better knowledge of the world around us?

If you work with education, or research, at any level, this book is a great tool and source of information to help you find that answer.

But if you deal with people, for instances, on a professional level - like, let’s say, so many Social Media “Gurus” out there - , then this book is absolutely indispensable.

According to most of those “specialists”, understanding the patterns behind Human relations in the new Digital Age is the next big thing. To take full advantage of all the immensity of information we see flowing trough the Internet every second, and transforming it into money-making consumer intelligence platforms, has become something like the new “Grail of Business 2.0”. Or something like that..

As we can see in this book, the next big thing has been around for quite a while.

In fact, like the author concludes, “networks are an inherent fabric of life”. They’re everywhere. Understanding those connections can’t be exclusively a business-driven effort.

It is the basic, and eternal, need for answers, knowledge and sense of fulfillment that will take us closer to that understanding.

The same kind of need that has been propelling Humanity forward across the ages, over and over again - and that comes perfectly clear when we read Visual Complexity.

Besides the smooth-reading contextualization and enlightening examples in all the seven chapters , this book also serves a greater purpose, as the author describes:

“As I reviewed projects to feature in the book, I was astounded by how many dead links and error messages I encountered.”

It happens all the time here. And when we talk about high quality projects like the ones featured both in the book as in the website, it’s really a shame that many of the interesting stuff made out there will be lost forever . Something to think about.

I’m sure a lot of you, at this point, might be thinking “What kind of review is this???? Where’s the technical analysis, the best examples and the (traditional) criticism?”

Well, I’m far from being a professional reviewer, and this is basically a “reader’s opinion”. But, in a nutshell, this is one of those books that must be always reachable, right there, like a survival guide of clarity and inspiration, for those moments where the data flowing in front of you seems unstoppable and overwhelming. That’s my feeling, after reading it all.

It’s the kind of book and that will teach you something new every time you open it (ok, aren’t all books like that? Maybe…)

You can find some of the examples featured in the book at Manuel Lima’s Visual Complexity website - where you can also read other reviews of the book - , and to close this post, a video from a couple of years ago, where he explains in detail his fascination with network visualization.

And feel free to leave your thoughts about the book here, would love to hear your opinion!