Noise - Hardcover

Kosko, Bart

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0670034959 ISBN 13: 9780670034956

Publisher: Viking Adult, 2006

Synopsis

The science commentator author of the best-selling Fuzzy Thinking presents a scientific history of noise for general readers, defining noise as an unaesthetic signal that occurs at every level of the universe that has made significant contributions in each period from the ice age to the information age. 20,000 first printing.

About this title

About the Author:

Bart Kosko, a professor of electrical engineering at USC, holds degrees in law, philosophy, economics, mathematics, and engineering, and is the author of Fuzzy Thinking, Heaven in a Chip, Nanotime, and several textbooks. His writings appear in the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Scientific American, and many other popular venues.

From Booklist:

*Starred Review* From the author of the hugely popular and influential Fuzzy Thinking 1993) comes this exploration of what seems like a fairly simple concept: noise. Well, it ain't that simple, folks. Noise can be aural, but it doesn't have to be. Noise can be loud, but not always. Noise can be bad, but sometimes it's good. What is noise? It is, simply, an unwanted signal that disrupts a wanted signal. You're in a restaurant, and you're having a conversation. Next table over, someone else is talking, too loud for your comfort. Your conversation is the signal, theirs is the noise; although, to the person at the other table, his conversation is the signal, and yours may be the noise. Noise, in other words, can be a very subjective thing. This is an endlessly fascinating book; in fact, it's one of those books that, while reading it, keep you lifting your head from the page and muttering "Wow!" to yourself as you absorb something else you had never thought of before. Kosko is an engaging writer, and he makes the science seem simple without ever dumbing it down (yes, there are equations in the book, but don't panic). David Pitt
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About this edition

• Publisher: Viking Adult
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0670034959
• ISBN 13: 9780670034956
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272