Chance and Chaos [Audio Cassette]

David Ruelle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1996

How do scientists look at chance, or randomness, and chaos in physical systems? In answering this question for a general audience, Reulle, one of the founders of Chaos Theory, has produced an authoritative and elegant work--a model of clarity, succinctness, and with humor bordering on the sardonic. 2 cassettes.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Ruelle, French professor of theoretical physics and author of several graduate-level mathematics and physics texts, here demonstrates the advanced ability to teach the general reader with conversational grace. The pace of his "walk among the scientific results of the twentieth century" does not rely on "great men" nor yet on historicity but on good structure. Ruelle guides the reader through Godel's theorem, quantum mechanics, strange attractors and a half-dozen of the most exotic modern theories. All the while his twin themes, mathematical chance and chaos theory, bound alongside like two dachshunds on a leash. If these themes wander into less fruitful speculations about the mathematical function of sex, for example, nonetheless Ruelle's "walk" has clarity and delight. To his credit, he does not spare the reader all of the number theory and notation.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

Step by step, Mr. Ruelle introduces concepts needed to understand the physical landscape of chance and chaos, explaining the meaning of probability, the ways of turbulent fluids, and the mathematical value of information. . . . Throughout, Chance and Chaos is spiced with the author's dry wit and unsparing judgments about scientists and science. . . . [This is] an expertly guided tour of some of the fundamental issues in the world of physics. -- David Voss, The New York Times Book Review

. . . by one of the founders of the rapidly developing field of nonlinear dynamics and chaos. . . . The book is a tour de force. -- Malcolm S. Longair, Natural History

Sets out the basics with precision, concision, and humor. . . . [Some books], perhaps the best books, are to be read for the pleasure of the author's company. Ruelle's book falls into [that] category. -- Tony Rothman, The New Republic

The book is an excellent read, either at one gulp or as chapter-by-chapter snacks. -- Robert M. May, Nature

A deep, thoughtful book, simply written, and a joy to read. -- Ian Stewart, The Times Higher Education Supplement --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Audio Scholar (January 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879557398
• ISBN-13: 978-1879557390
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,261,610 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction to chaos theory, November 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Chance and Chaos (Paperback)

It's nice to be hearing how a physicist places chaos theory in its place amongst possible explanations for natural phenomena. He doesn't oversell chaos, and doesn't undersell it. Not too big a tome -- a good read.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ruelle's Chance and Chaos, March 31, 2000

By 

Osher Doctorow, Ph.D. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chance and Chaos (Paperback)

This is the best popular book on chaos, dynamic systems, and entropy that I have ever read, by one of the pioneers of this field. I have remarked in my reviews of Gribbin, Kaku, and others that Creative Geniuses in science (unlike Ingenious Followers who are so abundant) inspire others and themselves often by popularizing science in ordinary English. It is a good sign if they do this often, but sometimes they only do it seldom or never. Ruelle, as far as I know, only did it once, in this book, and the reader who loses the opportunity to obtain this book has lost a classic. Ruelle inspired me at an important place in my career (my fields are related to the probability-logic-entropy-physics interface). I am especially fond of recalling his description of how extremely new creations or inventions are typically received in science: journal reviewers will usually contradict each other in their haste to oust the newcomer. There are still journals which do not touch chaos, entropy, dynamic systems, fractals, not to mention my own field of logic-based probability.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a bit chaotic after all, January 19, 1998

By 

Sergio B. Volchan([e-mail]) (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chance and Chaos (Paperback)

Interesting book but it tries to cover too much material some of which cannot be adequately grasped without the maths (though some of the explanatory notes help). It also ends with some worn out admonitions about the future of humanity and such stuff which plagues science popularization books.