Complexification: Explaining a Paradoxical World Through the Science of Surprise

by John L. Casti

Book Overview

Arguing that a complexity that defies human logic is only natural, and unlike anything in the range of complexity books, this book shows directly how complexity arises, and how it works. Complexification is a primer, in a sense, for life's most complicated processes.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060168889
• ISBN13: 9780060168889
• Release Date: January 1994
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 1.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Nice read

Casti says, maxims and aphorisms with opposite meaning can both be true in a complex world. Example, people fall in love because: A. 'birds of a feather flock together'.. B.'opposites attract'. Great exercise for clearing out cobwebs in the mind.

Good intro to some complex ideas

I found this to be an easy to read introduction to current hot topics in science and math. Catastrophe theory, Complexity, Chaos, and emergence. There is also an excellent listing of resources with commentary in the back of the book, called, "to dig deeper". I am an engineer with an MBA, so found a number of the examples very interesting. For the curious, (or less technically adept), this is very well written. Mr. Casti goes quickly from theory to "real world" examples. His illustrations are also very helpful to understanding the basic principles. Most books on complexity contain way too much math for the average reader, or are very simplistic, "Ubiquity" as an example. I think you will find a nice balance here.