Four Ways of Thinking - by David Sumpter

About the Book

Book Synopsis

Acclaimed mathematician David Sumpter shares practical and insightful solutions for navigating the chaos and complexity of our lives

What is the best way to think about the world? How often do we consider how our own thinking might impact the way we approach our daily decisions? Could it help or hinder our relationships, our careers, or even our health?

As acclaimed mathematician David Sumpter shows, thinking about thinking is something we rarely do, yet it is something science questions all the time. He has spent decades studying what we could all learn from the mindsets of scientists, and Four Ways of Thinking is the result. Here he reveals the four easily applied approaches to our problems: statistical, interactive, chaotic, and complex. Combining engaging personal experience with practical advice and inspiring tales of groundbreaking scientific pioneers (with a tiny bit of number crunching along the way), Sumpter shows how these tried and tested methods can help us with every conundrum, from how to bicker less with our partners to pitching to a tough crowd--and in doing so, change our lives.

Review Quotes

Praise for Four Ways of Thinking

"Eccentrically fascinating and enjoyable." --The Guardian

"I wish David Sumpter had been my maths teacher. I hated the subject at school. I hoover up his books now... This new book takes a step further towards the personal and everyday. It unpicks four big 20th-century ideas, all related to mathematical modeling of real-world behavior. Sumpter calls these approaches statistical, interactive (broadly meaning how interactions between individuals create patterns), chaotic (derived from chaos theory) and complex (from complexity theory). His particular genius is to apply these ways of thinking to relatable situations..." --The Sunday Times

About the Author