Two's Company, Three Is Complexity: A Simple Guide to the Science of All Sciences - Hardcover

Johnson, Neil F.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1851684883 ISBN 13: 9781851684885

Publisher: Oneworld Pubns Ltd, 2007

Synopsis

What do traffic jams, stock market crashes, and wars have in common? They can all be explained by complexity, an unsolved puzzle which is the most important scientific development since general relativity, and considered by many to be the 'Science of Sciences'. In Two's Company, Three is Complexity, Neil Johnson draws on his experience as a leading researcher in the field to explore the surprising ways in which order eventually emerges from the interaction of all things. Relevant across the whole breadth of social studies and science from pubs to plants, Johnson utilizes a wealth of real-life examples as he leads us on a brilliantly entertaining romp through chaos, game theory, economics, and even jazz, ultimately proving that complexity lies at the very heart of the Universe itself. The sheer scope and interdisciplinary nature of the subject means that those with backgrounds in physics, biology, engineering, computer science, economics, sociology, politics, business, or mathematics will appreciate the book's relevance to, and illumination of, their own field of interest. Lucidly written, this is the first publication to deal with complexity as a self-contained subject in its own right, and will be an indispensable reference for anyone seeking to step back and understand how order always emerges from the patterns and processes of every day life.

About this title

About the Author

Neil Johnson is Professor of Physics at Oxford University. He is co-director of Oxford University's research collaboration into Complexity and author of Financial Market Complexity, Oxford University Press (2003). He was previously the Royal Institution's Christmas lecturer, writing and presenting five one hour lectures on BBC Television.

Review

"A highly engaging and accessible introduction to complexity theory that will be of interest to a broad readership." -- Christophre Georges - Professor of Economics, Hamilton College

"An excellent introduction to complexity -- a branch of science that every one of us in our time should be aware of." -- Pak Ming Hui - Professor of Physics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

"This is a wonderful book, simultaneously deep and highly readable. It provides unexpected insights into a wild array of subjects ranging from jazz to traffic jams to war." -- Michael Spagat - Professor of Economics, Royal Holloway College, University of London

'It's lucidly explained, engagingly written and constantly surprising: complexity made simple!' -- Philip Ball -- best-selling author of Critical Mass: How One Thing Leads to Another

"Johnson's book fills a long-overdue need for an engaging semipopular book about complexity science, one that is also strong on the underlying scientific and theoretical concepts." -- Choice

It's lucidly explained, engagingly written and constantly surprising: complexity made simple! -- Philip Ball -- best-selling author of Critical Mass: How One Thing Leads to Another

It's lucidly explained, engagingly written and constantly surprising: complexity made simple! -- Philip Ball best-selling author of Critical Mass: How One Thing Leads to Another

This is a wonderful book, simultaneously deep and highly readable. It provides unexpected insights into a wild array of subjects ranging from jazz to traffic jams to war. -- Michael Spagat - Professor of Economics, Royal Holloway College, University of London

Edition details

• Publisher: Oneworld Pubns Ltd
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1851684883
• ISBN 13: 9781851684885
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 236