Complexity - by Mitchell M Waldrop (Paperback)

About the Book

Science magazine reporter Waldrop introduces researchers--rebellious graduate students, Nobel laureates, and pragmatic businessmen--who are formulating surprising answers to complex questions about the universe. Line drawings.

Book Synopsis

The bestselling and essential introduction to complexity science--the study of how patterns, change, and unexpected behavior emerge in nature, the economy, technology, and society. From stock market crashes to evolution, Waldrop expertly guides readers through seemingly chaotic systems and their hidden rules.Why did the stock market crash more than 500 points on a single Monday in 1987? Why do ancient species often remain stable for millions of years and then suddenly disappear? In a world where "nice guys finish last", why do humans value trust and cooperation? At first glance, these questions do not appear to have much in common, but each one involves a complex system. Drawing from diverse fields, leading scientists, and groundbreaking research at the Santa Fe Institute, Waldrop tells a vivid human story of complexity science. A smart, engaging work of popular science, Complexity reveals how this revolutionary field transformed how we understand the world and our place within it.

Review Quotes

"If you liked Chaos, you'll love Complexity. Waldrop creates the most exciting intellectual adventure story of the year."

About the Author

M. Mitchell Waldrop has his doctorate in elementary particle physics and is the author of Man-Made Minds. He spent ten years as a senior writer for Science magazine, where he is now a contributing correspondent.