Complexification (Paperback)

by John L. Casti (Author) "A few years ago I made an extended lecture tour of Japan..." (more)
Key Phrases: having complexity greater, logistic rule, whose simplices, New York, Busy Beaver, Top Down (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Most books on complexity theory promise to lead the epistemological thrill-seeker far out on the limb of theory. Not so Casti ( Searching for Certainty ). He admits early on to a major "surprise" about chaos and other formal systems: that even with artificial intelligence as a new tool, theory cannot capture nature. After an almost old-fashioned undergraduate review of basic concepts of dynamical systems, Casti shows how formal complexity models proceed from the basic "surprises." Always more interested in instructing than in dazzling with sensational and obtuse ideas, Casti steers the reader toward an understanding of the field. He's a good teacher and this is the kind of grounding lay readers should have before they step farther out on a new paradigm.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
A renowned mathematician shows how the "science of surprise" can help explain some of the most inexplicable phenomena in science, nature, the arts, the economy, and more.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial (March 3, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060925876
• ISBN-13: 978-0060925871
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #611,551 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Some interesting points, but very uneven., September 27, 1999

By A Customer

While parts of this book were very thought-provoking, too many details were either left out or skimmed over to allow this book to stand alone. For example, the formula the author supplies to calculate the eccentricity of a simplex couldn't possibly produce the results he gives in the adjoining table; some are infinite, and the formula as he states is specifically designed to avoid such results. If you're really interested in catastophe theory or chaos theory, make sure you read this book where you have other reference materials on hand.

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice read, May 22, 2007

By	peter fairley (ex-pat in Philippines) - See all my reviews

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars Good intro to some complex ideas, April 29, 2002

By	S. A. Corning (Gurnee, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.