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Chaos: Making a New Science Paperback – August 26, 2008

by James Gleick (Author)

4.5 3,056 ratings

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The million-copy New York Times bestseller and finalist for both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award that reveals the science behind chaos theory

A work of popular science in the tradition of Stephen Hawking and Carl Sagan, this 20th-anniversary edition of James Gleick’s groundbreaking bestseller Chaos introduces a whole new readership to chaos theory, one of the most significant waves of scientific knowledge in our time. From Edward Lorenz’s discovery of the Butterfly Effect, to Mitchell Feigenbaum’s calculation of a universal constant, to Benoit Mandelbrot’s concept of fractals, which created a new geometry of nature, Gleick’s engaging narrative focuses on the key figures whose genius converged to chart an innovative direction for science. In Chaos, Gleick makes the story of chaos theory not only fascinating but also accessible to beginners, and opens our eyes to a surprising new view of the universe.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize

“Fascinating . . . almost every paragraph contains a jolt.” —The New York Times

“Taut and exciting . . . a fascinating illustration of how the pattern of science changes.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Highly entertaining . . . a startling look at newly discovered universal laws.”—Chicago Tribune

“An awe-inspiring book. Reading it gave me that sensation that someone had just found the light switch.” —Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

“Chaos is a feast.” —The Washington Post Book World

About the Author

James Gleick was born in New York City in 1954. He worked for ten years as an editor and reporter for The New York Times, founded an early Internet portal, the Pipeline, and has written several books of popular science, including The Information: A History, a Theory, a Flood, which won the PEN/E. O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award, and Time Travel: A History. He lives in Key West and New York.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0143113453
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books; Anniversary,Reprint edition (August 26, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780143113454
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143113454
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1160L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 1.3 x 5.5 x 8.4 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #41,483 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3 in Chaos Theory
- #8 in Fractal Mathematics
- #130 in History & Philosophy of Science (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 3,056 ratings

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James Gleick

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James Gleick was born in New York and began his career in journalism, working as an editor and reporter for the New York Times. He covered science and technology there, chronicling the rise of the Internet as the Fast Forward columnist, and in 1993 founded an Internet startup company called The Pipeline. His books have been translated into more than twenty-five languages.

His home page is at http://around.com, and on Twitter he is @JamesGleick.

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3,056 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They appreciate the clear explanations and illustrations that help them understand the ideas presented. The narrative quality is described as approachable and interesting. Readers consider it a valuable read for the price. However, opinions differ on the pacing - some consider it mathematically focused, while others consider it chaotic.

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Readability Understanding Narrative quality Illustrations Value for money Pacing

143 customers mention "Readability"117 positive26 negative

Customers find the book readable and engaging. They appreciate the clear and simple language. The content is worth reading, especially for those interested in science.

"...Written to understand, yet profoundly deep. Great information to know in this day and age. You won't be disappointed." Read more

"Great book covering how Chaos is introduced in science. It tells you how complexity can automatically arise from simple deterministic laws...." Read more

"...Fortunately the reader doesn't have to be math-wiz to enjoy this amazing book (although the author does sneak a few equations here and there)...." Read more

"...Highly recommended for those seeking an engaging and enriching read in the realm of science." Read more

113 customers mention "Understanding"97 positive16 negative

Customers find the book's story-telling and didactic explanations helpful for understanding the ideas presented. They appreciate the topic being explored in a wonderful way, providing fresh viewpoints and tools. Readers describe the book as enlightening, but not always riveting.

"...Written to understand, yet profoundly deep. Great information to know in this day and age. You won't be disappointed." Read more

"Great book covering how Chaos is introduced in science. It tells you how complexity can automatically arise from simple deterministic laws...." Read more

"...is a purely Mathematical Construct with applications for several different scientific disciplines...." Read more

"...From the engaging accounts of key figures to the clear explanation of concepts like sensitivity to initial conditions, Gleick manages to maintain..." Read more

33 customers mention "Narrative quality"31 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the book's narrative style. They find it concise and engaging, with an amazing story telling of the people involved in the discovery of Chaos. The book provides a good high-level coverage of the history and motivation for Chaos theory and fractals. Readers appreciate the personal stories about Chaos pioneers. Overall, they find the book a great way to tell a story about science.

"...From the engaging accounts of key figures to the clear explanation of concepts like sensitivity to initial conditions, Gleick manages to maintain..." Read more

"Recommended for anyone who loves history and data." Read more

"...very good history of chaos theory and its development from quirky art into a legitimate branch of science...." Read more

"...In this book, I liked the story-telling and didactic explanations. Should be a nice gift for youngsters interested in math or physics...." Read more

10 customers mention "Illustrations"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the illustrations in the book. They find the illustrations helpful, especially with the step-by-step explanations for this exciting topic. The book includes a variety of images, including the design of the universe, fractals, some in full color, and the beauty of chaos.

"...The book has many illustrations of fractals, some of which are in full color...." Read more

"...shapes of nature are irregular and far more diverse, and are also more beautiful...." Read more

"...The illustrations add a lot, especially given the step-by-step explanations for the trajectory represented by each graph and the gradual building-..." Read more

"...learn from this book and probably 8th graders also...the illustrations are clear, the sources clearly explained...i would buy it again!" Read more

6 customers mention "Value for money"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book offers good value for money. It covers topics like music, finance, and coffee mixing.

"...One can relate to the evolution of the universe, life, art, finance, or even mixing of coffee with milk. Important book to read...." Read more

"The book was in a very good condition and it was a great deal for such book...." Read more

"...A good price offer combined with an interesting subject to me = success" Read more

"Quality item as described. Great price." Read more

19 customers mention "Pacing"10 positive9 negative

Customers have different views on the book's pacing. Some find it mathematically focused with applications in logic, physics, biology, and personality. Others feel the book is confusing and jumps between different subjects without clear transitions. While some find it engaging, others find the pacing inconsistent and not always riveting.

"...It tells you how complexity can automatically arise from simple deterministic laws...." Read more

"...This is then not a book about chaos theory...." Read more

"Chaos, like String Theory, is a purely Mathematical Construct with applications for several different scientific disciplines...." Read more

"...Jumping a bit back and forth...." Read more

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GLowGal
This book opens up a whole new realm of thinking
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2024
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Gleick's engaging narrative focuses on the key figures whose genius converged to chart a new direction for science. For those of you who believe in the 'Butterfly Effect'; you will be enthralled with this book. Written to understand, yet profoundly deep. Great information to know in this day and age. You won't be disappointed.

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Anup Teejo Mathew
Learn how Chaos became Science
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2024
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Great book covering how Chaos is introduced in science. It tells you how complexity can automatically arise from simple deterministic laws. One can relate to the evolution of the universe, life, art, finance, or even mixing of coffee with milk. Important book to read.

Faced some formatting issues with the e book, unconnected sections and figures, and sometimes jumps in writing from serious topics to simple once were unpleasant.

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LastRanger
Entropy's Stepchild.
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2013
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Chaos, like String Theory, is a purely Mathematical Construct with applications for several different scientific disciplines. Fortunately the reader doesn't have to be math-wiz to enjoy this amazing book (although the author does sneak a few equations here and there). Basically Chaos Theory studies the behavior of complex systems that are sensitive to their starting conditions; small changes can have a large effect on the outcome. (It's a little more complicated than that but also beyond the scope of this review). Journalist and science writer James Gleick has put it all together in this highly readable "biography" of the theory. The roots of Chaos go back to the early 20th century with some hints as far back as the late 19th century. Gleick traces the turbulent history of this new science and the people that made it happen. For as long as we've had Mathematicians and Physicist the two sciences have been butting heads and neither side wanted anything to do with Meteorology in general. Yet it was in an obscure Meteorological journal in the 1950s that we find one of the first papers that reference this chaotic side to Nature. For me, parts of this book were a tough read with some sections that were hard to get through. On the other hand there were other parts that went very fast, but whatever effort you put into reading this book is well worth it. While exploring Chaos's history the author introduces the reader to some unfamiliar concepts like: Strange Attractors, Nonlinear Fluid Dynamics and Phase Transitions. It turns out that Chaos has strong ties to Biology, Astronomy, Geology and, yes, even Meteorology. As a matter of fact just about any science you can think of that has a complex or nonlinear problem can be studied with Chaos applications. Some of the scientist mentioned in the text may be familiar to you while others are somewhat more obscure. One that stood out for me was Benoit Mandelbrot and his study of Fractals. The book has many illustrations of fractals, some of which are in full color. It's not just science that benefits from Chaos Theory but everyday life has elements to which the math can be applied; the stock market, population dynamics, medical research, wherever there are transitions from stability to chaotic conditions. When you watch a pot of water on the stove, there is a point where it changes from orderly to turbulent and in that instant when it goes from just hot to boiling something strange is going on, something chaotic but understandable if you take the time to look a little deeper and just work it out. Chaos helps us see the hidden turmoil that lurks in the universe around us. The Second Law of Thermodynamics tells us the everything tends toward disorder, we call it Entropy. But is there an underlying order to that Chaos? How do we recognize it's calling card and once recognized, what do we do with it? Even today the research goes on and our understanding of many issues can change overnight. So hang on tight "It's gonna be a bumpy ride". I'm not sure how much I got out of this book but I did come away with plenty of food for thought.
I had no technical or formatting problems with this Kindle edition.

Last Ranger

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Carmen
A Fascinating Journey into Chaos and Revolutionary Science
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2024
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"Chaos: Making a New Science" is a book that captivated me from the very first page. James Gleick takes us on a fascinating journey through chaos, exploring a science that challenges our conventional perceptions.
Gleick demonstrates his mastery by making complex scientific concepts accessible to the average reader. His skill in interweaving human stories with scientific discoveries creates a compelling narrative.
As you progress through the pages, you are immersed in the fascinating history of the emergence of chaos theory. From the engaging accounts of key figures to the clear explanation of concepts like sensitivity to initial conditions, Gleick manages to maintain interest without sacrificing scientific rigor.
What makes this book stand out even more is its timeless relevance. Although written in the 1980s, the ideas and principles presented remain foundational in modern science.
In summary, "Chaos" not only provides a masterful exploration of chaos and the new science that emerged from it but also invites the reader to question and redefine their understanding of the world around us. Highly recommended for those seeking an engaging and enriching read in the realm of science.

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Carmen

A Fascinating Journey into Chaos and Revolutionary Science
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2024
"Chaos: Making a New Science" is a book that captivated me from the very first page. James Gleick takes us on a fascinating journey through chaos, exploring a science that challenges our conventional perceptions.
Gleick demonstrates his mastery by making complex scientific concepts accessible to the average reader. His skill in interweaving human stories with scientific discoveries creates a compelling narrative.
As you progress through the pages, you are immersed in the fascinating history of the emergence of chaos theory. From the engaging accounts of key figures to the clear explanation of concepts like sensitivity to initial conditions, Gleick manages to maintain interest without sacrificing scientific rigor.
What makes this book stand out even more is its timeless relevance. Although written in the 1980s, the ideas and principles presented remain foundational in modern science.
In summary, "Chaos" not only provides a masterful exploration of chaos and the new science that emerged from it but also invites the reader to question and redefine their understanding of the world around us. Highly recommended for those seeking an engaging and enriching read in the realm of science.

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Nigel R. Guest
The book is as chaotic as its subject
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2024
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Gleick has done excellent research into an interesting subject, though I gather that it's now considered dated, like me. There's no deep math and the concentration is more on researchers' progress paths. However, I didn't care for the organization of the first half of the book. Take Lorenz, depicted, possibly incorrectly, as the originator of Chaos Theory. Maybe half of his work on chaos is described at the beginning. Then, as later researchers from other backgrounds discovered him, new aspects of his work were revealed in great detail. By the time I'd finished absorbing these new items, I'd almost forgotten why the later researchers were interested.

This book needn't have been so difficult to read. BTW, I'm not entirely an ignoramus. I have solid qualifications in Engineering, so how this book became a best-seller is beyond me.

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S. da Silva
Incredible book
Reviewed in Canada on April 6, 2024
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The content is expansive but the author does an incredible job of making it as digestible as possible. Highly suggest watching Rob Sapolskis lecture on Chaos on YouTube through Stanford University afterwards.

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Priscilla
Precisa pesquisar enquanto le
Reviewed in Brazil on August 24, 2023
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Sou leiga no assunto e precisei pesquisar enquanto leio, o que não é ruim. É uma leitura mais densa, e dá a atividade o cunho de estudo mais do que hobby. E eu achando que seria como os livros do Hawking hahahaha

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Andie
Excelente !
Reviewed in Mexico on February 10, 2023
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Un clavado a los orígenes de la teoría del caos, y de sus fundadores !!!

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Mercedes
Great book
Reviewed in Spain on December 21, 2024
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This was the first book I ever read about chaos theory so many years ago and I fell in love with. Lost it in a move and I bought it again. From Amazon 2nd hand in pristine conditions, a very good deal!

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halfluke
The most popular book on chaos theory, and for a good reason.
Reviewed in Italy on December 25, 2023
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As the author says, there are 3 revolutions in the science of the 20th century: relativity, quantum mechanics, and chaos. The latter is the most recent of the three and not as well known as the other two. This book helps fill the gap.

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