Six Sources of Collapse

Charles R. Hadlock

ISBN 10: 0883855798 / ISBN 13: 9780883855799

Published by Mathematical Association of America, US, 2012

About this Item

Beginning with one of the most remarkable ecological collapses of recent time, that of the passenger pigeon, Hadlock goes on to survey collapse processes across the entire spectrum of the natural and man-made world. He takes us through extreme weather events, technological disasters, evolutionary processes, crashing markets and companies, the chaotic nature of Earth's orbit, revolutionary political change, the spread and elimination of disease, and many other fascinating cases. His key thesis is that one or more of six fundamental dynamics consistently show up across this wide range. These ""six sources of collapse"" can all be best described and investigated using fundamental mathematical concepts. They include low probability events, group dynamics, evolutionary games, instability, nonlinearity, and network effects, all of which are explained in readily understandable terms. Almost the entirety of the book can be understood by readers with a minimal mathematical background, but even professional mathematicians are likely to get rich insights from the range of examples. The author tells his story with a warmly personal tone and weaves in many of his own experiences, whether from his consulting career of racing around the world trying to head off industrial disasters to his story of watching collapse after collapse in the evolution of an ecosystem on his New Hampshire farm. Creative teachers could use this book for anything from a liberal arts math course to a senior capstone seminar, and one reviewer suggested that it should be required reading for any mathematics graduate student heading off into a teaching career. This book will also be of interest to readers in the fields under discussion, such as business, engineering, ecology, political science, and others.

Seller Inventory # LU-9780883855799

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Six Sources of Collapse
• Publisher: Mathematical Association of America, US
• Publication Date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0883855798
• ISBN 13: 9780883855799
• Binding: Hardback
• Edition: UK ed.
• Condition: New
• Dimensions: 18.24W x 1.75H x 26.11D centimeters 18.24 centimeters width by 1.75 centimeters height by 26.11 centimeters depth
• Weight: 540 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Beginning with one of the most remarkable ecological collapses of recent times, that of the passenger pigeon, this book surveys collapse processes across the entire spectrum of the natural and man-made world. The reader is taken through extreme weather events, crashing financial markets and companies, the chaotic nature of Earth's orbit, revolutionary political change, the spread of disease and many other fascinating cases. The author's key observation is the consistent occurrence of one or more of six fundamental dynamics ('six sources of collapse'), all of which can be best described and investigated using fundamental mathematical concepts which include low probability events, group dynamics, evolutionary games, instability, nonlinearity and network effects. The exposition assumes a minimal mathematical background, but even professional mathematicians are likely to get rich insights from the range of examples. This book will also be of interest to readers in business and finance, engineering, ecology and political science.

About the Author

Charles Hadlock has worked as a risk consultant in the chemical, power, transportation and mining industries. As the dean of a business school, he witnessed collapses of corporations, currencies and markets. Combined with his scientific background, interdisciplinary collaborative work and extensive management experience at the top levels of corporations and governments, he has a uniquely broad perspective on collapse processes. He has previously authored an award-winning monograph on field theory and an acclaimed text on mathematical modelling in environmental management.