Complexity

The bestselling and essential introduction to complexity science—the study of how patterns, change, and unexpected behavior emerge in nature, the economy, technology, and society. From stock market crashes to evolution, Waldrop expertly guides readers through seemingly chaotic systems and their hidden rules.

Why did the stock market crash more than 500 points on a single Monday in 1987? Why do ancient species often remain stable for millions of years and then suddenly disappear? In a world where "nice guys finish last", why do humans value trust and cooperation? At first glance, these questions do not appear to have much in common, but each one involves a complex system. Drawing from diverse fields, leading scientists, and groundbreaking research at the Santa Fe Institute, Waldrop tells a vivid human story of complexity science.

A smart, engaging work of popular science, Complexity reveals how this revolutionary field transformed how we understand the world and our place within it.

M. Mitchell Waldrop is a science writer and editor with a doctorate in elementary particle physics from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s degree in journalism. He has written and edited for Science and Nature, covering fields from physics, astronomy, and artificial intelligence to molecular biology, psychology, and neuroscience. He is also the author of Man-Made Minds: The Promise of Artificial Intelligence and Cosmic Origins: Science’s Long Quest to Understand How Our Universe Began.