Niall Ferguson's book "The Square and the Tower" discusses how history often favors the narratives of the successful while neglecting the failures. In most historical accounts, triumphs are more prominently featured because the winners control the storytelling. However, this pattern shifts when examining networks, where it is frequently the failed networks that draw scrutiny and public attention, overshadowing the successful ones.

This leads to a unique situation where the infamous and the unsuccessful gain a stronger presence in historical records than their successful counterparts. As a result, notoriety rather than achievement can determine the prominence of certain networks, highlighting how societal perceptions can warp the understanding of historical significance.