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The Quark and the Jaguar: Adventures in the Simple and the Complex

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How do you file a book like "The Quark and the Jaguar?" I could file it with books discussing quantum physics. That would certainly be appropriate. Then, again, I could file it with books on evolution. That would be equally appropriate. But then I might decide to file it in the section on public policy toward the environment, and environmental protection. Certainly, that is an appropriate place for this book. But wait. It also belongs in the section dealing with artificial intelligence and complex adaptive systems. So, where would you put it? I'm still not sure.

Murray Gell-Mann's "The Quark and the Jaguar" takes us on a whirlwind tour from the "simple" construct of quantum physics to the complex adaptive system in a coat of spots moving stealthily through the forest in search of game. Through all this, Gell-Mann ties the entire tapestry into the unifying concepts of complex adaptive systems leaving the reader in awe at the wonder and complexity that arises from the natural evolutionary processes governing the universe in which we live.

The book is organized in four parts. The first is a general-purpose section that discusses everything from information theory to the scientific method and the power of scientific theories. It's always a pleasure to read a description of science and the scientific method from a leading scientist such as Gell-Mann. The sections dealing with falsifiability, selection pressure on the scientific enterprise, unifying characteristics of scientific theories, and the power of theory give a clear and illuminating explanation of the essence of science.

The second part of the book deals with quantum physics. Here you will find Gell-Mann's own story about the (theoretical) discovery of the quark and how it fits into the standard model. Gell-Mann's discussion about the standard model is among the clearest I've seen for the general reader. I found his explanation of all the so-called quantum paradoxes especially well done. From the standard model Gell-Mann explains some of the ideas within superstring theory and the hope that this may provide the unification of physics that has been anticipated for so long.

I always hesitate to differ with anyone of Gell-Mann's stature. Especially in public. It invariably leads to embarrassment. Still, I'm just as loath to read a book and find myself in complete agreement with all its points. On the subject of complexity I found myself out of sorts with the trend followed by Gell-Mann. He begins by describing complexity as algorithmic complexity. This is essentially the length of the shortest binary code that can describe the phenomena. Gell-Mann then points out some rather obvious deficiencies with this definition. For example, it is a maximum for a completely random string of bits, yet we don't typically associate complexity with randomness. From there Gell-Mann takes us to something he calls effective complexity. Yet Gell-Mann laments that this still seems inadequate because it would use the genomes of living things to assess their effective complexity, yet we know (or do we?) that humans are far more complex than apes, even though we share well over 90% of our genetic code.

This apparent desire leads eventually to something Gell-Mann calls "potential complexity." Now, I cannot argue specifically against these definitions. They seem perfectly intuitive and obvious. Still, I cannot shake the feeling that I'm seeing the same process that led scientists in the 19'Th century to define characteristics for the human skull that led to conclusions that whites were more intelligent than blacks. The entire scheme was ultimately based on subconsciously working toward a desired conclusion by manipulating definitions.

Are we more complex than apes? I'm not so sure. Especially when one considers the next effect of humanity on the earth. True, for what it's worth we have an extensive and (is it really?) complex culture. Then again, we are the cause of the greatest mass extinction since the K/T boundary. If you add it all up, I wonder if we really are responsible for more complexity than random destruction.

Sections three and four differ fundamentally from the first two parts. The first two parts deal with what Gell-Mann would call simple systems. Things like quantum physics and the general theory of relativity. The really complicated stuff is in biology. Part three deals with that and more, including general discussions about how complex adaptive systems learn. I found the part on creative learning especially interesting. This section purports to explain how to enhance one's ability to think creatively. The section is only ½ page long. Interestingly, creative thinking correlates with what often appears to be random thought processes. I couldn't help wondering about the conclusions regarding algebraic complexity and randomness.

The book ends with section four, which is really Gell-Mann's views on various social issues, particularly those associated with the environment. I could not help wishing, as I read these last few pages, that our species could not have a few more men like Gell-Mann. What a difference it would make if his level of intellect, honesty, compassion, and logic could be brought to focus on more issues. It left me with a renewed determination to follow his lead in doing more to preserve biodiversity on earth for the earth, and for future generations.

If you find wonder in the world, and excitement in a journey of discovery, then I recommend Gell-Mann's book wholeheartedly.

Duwayne Anderson

Saving money by buying this book? How can that be? The answer is very simple.

1) For instance, you want to buy a book about thought experiment involving Schrödinger cat, because you are interested how is it possible that cat can be simultaneously both, live and dead. Well, quantum mechanics doesn't imply that cat is live and dead at the same time, so there is no such a problem.

2) Say, you want to buy a book about parallel universes which suppose to emerge from strange quantum mechanical laws. Don't, because those parallel universes doesn't emerge from quantum mechanics (or from any other known physical law!)

3) Likewise, don't buy books which wants to 'explain' spooky affects of one photon on the other in the distance. That is not what happening after all.

4) Also, some books covers the subject about how biological evolution violate the second law of thermo-dynamics (because in biological evolution order tend to increase with the passage of time). Truth is that this is not truth.

All these, and many other questions Gell-Mann clearly explain in 'Quark and the Jaguar', so don't waste your time and money on those books.

You may ask your self: But, maybe Gell-Mann is wrong? Maybe he is, but it is extremely unlikely. He is the greatest living authority on quantum mechanics you can find around, so it is very wise to take seriously what he wants to tell us. Gell-Mann is, by all means, a far away from popular speculation and misunderstandings. His goal is not to take your money by writing what most people want to hear - a kind of misticism in science.

'Quark and the Jaguar' covers really wide range of subjects, which is not very surprising considering his brilliant mind. If you want to open up your mind this is the book for you. After reading it, you can start studying subjects you are especially interested for. 'Quark and the Jaguar' is must for any intelligent individual.

Gell-mann is, quite simply, an expert in more fields than most people have a passing interest in. Added to this is a lucid, entertaining writing style, and the ability to knit together seemingly disparate concepts from the fields of physics, cosmology, genetics, information theory, evolution, behavioural psychology, sociology...you name it.

It seems a few people have been criticising Gell-mann for overextending himself, boasting about his own achievements or simply writing a dislocated, jumbled book. My advice to these people is to 'look for the patterns behind the apparent randomness', as Gell-mann might have put it (because they are there, all right), give him his due for his own (considerable) contributions to physics and admire his courage in even attempting to connect so many ideas, let alone succeeding as well as does.

I loved this book, and I think anyone interested in just about any aspect of science ought to like it too.

The "reductionistic" scientific method, which seeks to reduce phonomena to simpler and more general underlying bludprints, has dominated the last three centuries. It works great in physics, as Newton domonstrated, but less well in other disciplines such as biology and psychology. For example, molecular biologists have isolated DNA, but have yet to adequately explain embroyonic development, protein folding and other riddles. To overcome these shortcomings, many are calling for a theory of complexity, which should focus on systems and the dynamics of development where order appears to organize itself from a bewildering number of interacting factors.

Gell-Mann argues that rather than replacing reductionist methods, complexity theory complements that approach. The quark is the simple and universal, the jaguar the complex. He suggests that between these two exists an unbroken chain.

Gell-Mann attempts to make his contribution with teh "complex adaptive system" that "acquires information about its environment" and indentifies "regularities in that information", which are then condensed into a "schema" or "model"; these latter are "non-static," and unlike a quark can evolve. Each complex adaptive system contains three strands: 1) basic rules; 2) frozen accidents; 3) a selection process. For example, language has genetically inherited cognitive capabilites with certain quirky attributes that persist and yet can change as the individual must describe new phenomena. A lot of the book is devoted to finding and explaining similar examples. It is a panoramic and entertaining excursion through human knowledge, if a bit cursory.

Gell-Mann also hopes to guide scientists into a more holistic and cross-disciplinary approaches. With its focus on historical development and links between the simple and complex, the study of complex adaptive systems, he argues, may be the spur required to stimulate such approaches, briging physics, chemistry, biology and even the social sciences. This is what he is doing at the Santa Fe Institute.

At its best, the book is a window into a great scientific mind, with fascinating mini-essays on state of the art science. Unfortunately, Gell-Mann is an uneven writer. Many passages are impenetrable to lay readers like myself. At a deeper level, he fails to critique the vague research agendas of the complexologists, who have been ridiculously popularised in such enues as Wired. Even the complex adaptive system may say too little about too much. Through it all, Gell-Mann maintains his pose as a total pedant.

REcommended. It is uneven, but this is one of the greatest thinks of the 20C.

This book is a little strange, and tries to cover a lot of ground without gaining miles. The question is if it is worth it to buy and read. I think it is, if only because of the excellent review of particle physics and the fact that Gell-Mann is one of the smartest men alive. But the book is much more ambitious, what in some cases is actually a good thing. Not in this one, however.

The main subject of the book is the study of "complex adaptive systems" carried out in the Santa-Fe Institute. Gell-Mann tries to review the topics studied there, but not because he glorifies the place, or think that it is unique, but because he knows the territory well (He helped found it). So the first section deals with the definitions of complexity, of adaptation, and of a system. There are good explanations of things like Algorithmic information content, and effective complexity, among other things. So far, Gell-Mann adds to the then-ever-popular issue of complexity. Not much can be said that is terribly wrong or innovative so far.

In the second section Gell-Mann goes into what he knows best, and it shows. The standard model of particle physics has very rareley been as well explained as in this book. Superstring, a little cosmology and the arrow of time are given space. But in the third section, things start to fall appart. Suddenly Gell-Mann gives inadequate discussions of evolution, useless talks of "memes" and the complex origins of theorizing, superstition and things like that. Economics is swiftly introduced, only to add to the confusion. The last section of the book, is was unecessary and downright strange. (som may object). It dealt with social issues and possible solutions. This part seemed to belong to another book, or writer, altogether.

So the book is not a lost case. It is interesting, reads well, and has some good ideas and explanations. But it is by no means what one would normaly expect coming from a Nobel prize winning physicist.

Information is rapidly becoming the new currency of business and scientific advancement. To understand information in any area, it is necessary to understand what the fundamental units are, both of information and in the area in question. However, quantum mechanics is probably unique, in that movement to the fundamental level increases the complexity. The actions that occur at the quantum level are so counter to our usual experience that it almost becomes an act of faith to believe that this is indeed how nature behaves. Gell-Mann, a Nobel prize-winning physicist, spends a great deal of time explaining the fundamentals of quantum mechanics and does it very well.
He explains the fundamentals of quantum mechanics and then moves on to clear up some of the common misconceptions concerning what is allowed and disallowed. A chapter is dedicated to an explanation of superstring theory, which is a theory that may explain all the forces of nature, but is still speculative and may never be verified or refuted.
His chapters on information in biology and how it operates in natural selection are also very well done. Given the current controversy concerning the role of natural selection in education, it is refreshing to hear a firm voice of reason arguing in favor of natural selection. He also delves into some of the more dubious areas of science, that of ball lightning and fish and frogs falling from the sky. While there have been many eyewitness accounts to fish falling from the sky, some of the strongest evidence is biological in nature. Biologists doing surveys of fish in distinct bodies of water have expressed puzzlement as to how the same species of fish can be present in two lakes that have no connection. If there are occasional meteorological conditions that can extract fish from a lake and then deposit them elsewhere, then the problem is solved.
We have all read some of the outlandish claims made in tabloid newspapers regarding the abilities of some extraordinary humans. However, there are occasions when such abilities do exist. One such situation is described in the book and it deals with the ability of a person to read the contents of a vinyl record by examining the grooves. The individual passed several rigorous tests conducted by professional skeptics, verifying that the skill does indeed exist.
I found Gell-Mann's writing to be clean, understandable and unpretentious. His explanations of information as used by both humans and nature is an eye-opener for anyone who works in information technology and I recommend it to everyone with an interest in how information is used and occasionally misused.

I might also have entitled my review, "See Carlos Camara's review of April 11, 2002." Camara captures my own thoughts to a tee. Where Gell-Mann is strongest, namely, on particle physics, his strengths shine through. Though hardly a rigorous survey of the field, the second section of Q&J is a compelling introduction to it -- and certainly whets one's appetite for further reading. The book's first section (an overview of the notion of complexity) is decent (though far better popular treatments can be found elsewhere). The book's third and fourth sections, however, are pretty much a total wash. I could tolerate them only insofar as they reflected the obvious integrity of the author. He is a political kindred spirit. That said, having purchased Q&J and had high expectations of it, I was surprised and not a little frustrated at how bereft of substance it was on matters "Jaguarian". More than a little disconnected, I found the second half of Q&J rambling, pedestrian, and even sophomoric. Certainly not what one expects of a Nobel prize winning physicist and of one of the founders of the Santa Fe institute. My respect for Gell-Mann, as a scientist and a humanist, is in no way diminished by Q&J, but I cannot help but feel that he (and his publisher) faltered with this effort. My advice: read the first half of Q&J for a cursory -- but well-written -- survey of complexity and particle physics. Skip the second half altogether.

Murray Gell-Mann is an odd combination of a brilliant and focused physicist and an curious and open citizen of the world. This book manages to showcase both sides of the man. _The Quark and the Jaguar_ begins as a tour of 20th century physics, the big theories complete with Gell-Mann's scientific commentary and personal descriptions of the people who made them, himself included. Along the way the book drifts more and more into the areas that Gell-Mann is concerned about outside physics: the environment, the study of complexity, the future of the human race. Gell-Mann communicates his concerns and views without ever getting up on a soapbox or skewing his descriptions of the state of theoretical physics today.

The book contains four sections dedicated to Mr. Gell-Mann's scientific passions: from his adventures in particle physics at Caltech (the simple) and nonlinear dynamics and chaos at the Sta. Fe Institute (the complex) to his quest for scientific truth and his environmental protection activities. All four sections are completely independent and almost not linked to one another. I wished that more parallels had been driven between the simple and the complex.

In the "meaty" sections Mr. Gell-Mann gives a very broad overview of the areas involved, without entering into many details. The book contains virtually no formulas and everything is narrated in a very easy way, so it's best as an introduction to the topics or as a summary of what you have read elsewhere. Regarding complex systems, I found his explanations of algorithmic complexity, effective complexity and other information theory concepts quite well explained but the section does not form a coherent whole. A better and far more comprehensive explanation of complex systems and Sta. Fe Institute "adventures" can be found in Origin of Wealth: Evolution, Complexity, and the Radical Remaking of Economics. Sync: How Order Emerges From Chaos In the Universe, Nature, and Daily Life or Chaos: Making a New Science are other excellent alternatives. If you like it really really "complex" you can try Investigations. As for particle physics, you can find deeper explanations of the standard model and of the four forces and their unification at high energies in Fearful Symmetry: The Search for Beauty in Modern Physics (Princeton Science Library) and Deep Down Things: The Breathtaking Beauty of Particle Physics.

I found his explanation of the uncertainty principle that rules the subatomic universe, as well as the effect of the multiple stories and how they cancel out because of quantum decoherence very illustrative. He explained them in a comprehensible way (ok, not really, but I think this is almost as good as it gets) and for the first time since I am reading this kind of "crazy stuff", I had the welcome impression that I was reading a sensible and down-to-earth person. I can live with the measurement uncertainty in the sense that one cannot determine the position and the angular moment of a particle at the same time, as well as with quantum uncertainty in the sense of multiple stories. I have no problem as long as the particles remain in a "probabilistic space" and the stories add up, cancel out or whatever it is that decoherence (or any other mechanism) does to allow for classical physics: in short, as long as I can grasp an apple and eat it, particles may do whatever they wish. However, saying that a cat is alive and dead at the same time or alternating between both states really goes beyond me. Mr. Gell-Mann explains how this multi-cited example together with other widespread and probably misunderstood quantum assumptions are not implied by quantum mechanics, ripping off the fancy and mystic parts of these topics. No living-dead cat? What a relief!

The last two sections are completely out of place in this book: the third seems to include whatever crossed the author's mind and the fourth is an attempt to promote conservation practices of both biodiversity and cultural diversity. However, each essay is a masterpiece of well balanced and beautifully rational thoughts and explanations. I thought skeptics' organizations were aimed at disproving everything that seemed unscientific and I was positively surprised to read that a magician is part of the team and that the author (a regular collaborator) found more pleasure in the rare occasions when it was not a fraud and instead of "disproving" they "proved" some phenomena. True scientific spirit after all! Finally, Mr. Gell-Mann's aim at the conservation of diversity is only fair and he succeeds to transmit us the urgency with which we need to act without sounding like an apocalyptic prophet.

This book gives valuable information on how complex systems arise out of a simple, natural ground. Gell-Mann's theories are useful in understanding chaos theory as well as many branches of quantum physics. A description of Gell-Mann's ecological explorations and efforts to maintain the biosphere is also given. The magician and student of physics will be well rewarded for reading Gell-Mann's work. The processes of consciousness and so magical phenomena may be understood in this light.