Thinking in Complexity

The first edition of this book, published in 1994, began with the statement that the new science of complexity would characterize the scientific develop­ ment of the 21st century. In the first decade of this century, this prediction has been confirmed by overwhelming new empirical results and theoretical insights the of physical and biological sciences, cognitive and computer sci­ ences, and social and economic sciences. Complexity and nonlinearity are still prominent features in the evolution of matter, mind, and human society. Thus, the science of complexity still aims at explanations for the emergence of order in nature and mind and in the economy and society by common principles. But a new engineering view has focused the exploration of complexity. On the one hand, we need new computational instruments to analyze com­ plex data and recognize future trends. On the other hand, the principles of complex dynamics are increasingly becoming the blueprints of gene, bio, and computer technology. Life and computer sciences are growing into a new kind of complex engineering, changing the basic conditions of human life and society. Nonlinear dynamics are implemented in nonlinear computer chips of high speed and miniaturized size, which are not only distributed in our technical equipment and environment, but also in our body and brain.

From the reviews of the fourth edition:

THE INDUSTRIAL PHYSICIST:

"The science of complexity is likely to be among the most salient features of the 21^st century, and Thinking in Complexity: Computational Dynamics of Matter, Mind, and Mankind is just as likely to be among the most popular introductions to the topic. Author Klaus Mainzer treats highly technical materials related to descriptions of complexity pervading science, engineering, and societal dynamics–and even ethics–with a lucidity that is sure to captivate physicists as well as the general public with a moderate scientific background. … Readers of this book will enjoy Mainzer’s exposition, which is based on a tight coupling between classical and historical concepts from Plato and Aristotle to modern, mathematical and physical developments, including relativity, chaos, and quantum physics. Every chapter begins with a section designed to orient the reader to the perspective of philosophical developments through the ages pertinent to the topic at hand. Readers patient enough to read through the lines will be rewarded with occasional gems such as Mainzer’s speculation on a possible correlation between a society’s development of atomistic ideas and its possession of a phonetic alphabet. The author takes pains to point out essential differences between classical science and the science of complexity. … Thinking in Complexity is an outstandingly readable book."

"This book is ambitious, incredibly erudite wih 22 pages of references, and is indisputably clearly and beautifully illustrated. It is perfectly suited to a first course on the science of complexity." (Physicalia 2005, vol. 57, page 191-192)

"All-in-all, this highly recommended book is a wonderful resource for intuitive basic ideas in the need of rigorous formulation." (Albert A. Mullin, Zentralblatt MATH 2004, vol. 1046, page 5)

"‘This is thefourth revised and slightly enlarged edition’ of what has been a bestseller since its first publication in 1994. … This book is ambitious, incredibly erudite with 22 pages of references, and is indisputably clearly and beautifully written and illustrated. It is perfectly suited to a first course on the science of complexity. Even beginners and young graduate students will have something to learn from this book." (André Hautot, Physicalia, Vol. 57 (3), 2005)

"Here is the fourth edition of a highly successful sequence of editions of this excellent book on complexity theory and its implications. … The major change from the three earlier editions is a shift of emphasis from the complex dynamics of matter, mind, and mankind towards the computational dynamics of mind, matter and mankind. … 100 pages of useful new material have been added to the book. All-in-all, this highly recommended book is a wonderful resource for intuitive basic ideas in the need of rigorous formulation." (Albert A. Mullin, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1046 (21), 2004)

"Readers of this book will enjoy Mainzer’s exposition, which is based on a tight coupling between classical and historical concepts from Plato and Aristotle to modern, mathematical and physical developments … . Every chapter begins with a section designed to orient the reader to the perspective of philosophical developments through the ages pertinent to the topic at hand. … The author takes pains to point out essential differences between classical science and the science of complexity. … Thinking in Complexity is an outstandingly readable book." (Anutosh Moitra, The Industrial Physicist, August/September, 2004)

From the reviews of the fifth edition:

"A new fifth edition of ‘Thinking in Complexity’ reflects recent developments associated with complexity research in life and physical sciences, computer science, economics, social and cognitive sciences. … This valuable text on complexitytheory and nonlinear dynamics features profound applications to important problems in natural and social sciences, culture, economics and serves both as a gentle introduction to complexity and a versatile encyclopedia where recent contributions to the field are thoroughly collected." (Yuri V. Rogovchenko, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1163, 2009)