Complexity: Life at the Edge of Chaos Review

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Complexity: Life at the Edge of Chaos ReviewThe scope of complexity science is vast, encompassing many disciplines. This book focuses on how the new idea of complexity relates to biology by discussing the idea with many leading biologists of the day. Other reviewers were put off by the book's lack of definition of what complexity is, and the lack of resolution as to what terms such as "edge of chaos" mean. But that is exactly the point. These terms do not have clear definition today. Complexity is a very immature field, frequently pursued at the visceral level. It is hard to define what it *is*, but frequently easy to identify it where it exists. I can understand the other reviewers' concerns with the lack of definition, and can only suggest that because of the narrower focus (biology), this is an appropriate second book on complexity.
As a second book, narrowly focused on the question of complexity in biology, it is outstanding. Specifically, the question is one of how self-organization (complexity) relates to evolution and what this means for natural selection. Complexity is frequently talked up as the unifier of the sciences. Lewin takes a balanced approach, taking the time to talk to complexity theorists and understand their ideas, then talking to mainstream biologists to see how the ideas relate. His conclusion shows no inherent bias. Where other books on complexity show extreme (perhaps undue) enthusiasm, Roger Lewin's concusion is decidedly "wait and see". I found his insights to be on target and relevant.
I mentioned that this is a good second book. For an introduction to complexity, read John Holland's "Hidden Order". For a history of the Santa Fe Institute and some of the personalities there, read Mitchell Waldrop's "Complexity". Either or both of these would serve as an adequate introduction to this book.Complexity: Life at the Edge of Chaos Overview

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General System Theory: Foundations, Development, Applications (Revised Edition) Review

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General System Theory: Foundations, Development, Applications (Revised Edition) ReviewI've looked high and low for a text summarizing systems theory and I write this review in near shock having just finished this book. I say "shock" because I just can't believe how remarkably undated this book is after nearly 40 years (first edition 1969). I've read books by Checkland, Lazlo, Weinberg and many others but nothing summarizes the systems world view better than this classic. You've gotta love a scientist/philosopher who quotes Aldous Huxley liberally. I'd give it six stars if I could.General System Theory: Foundations, Development, Applications (Revised Edition) Overview

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Analysis and Design of Information Systems Review

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Analysis and Design of Information Systems ReviewThis is a terrible book. It is completely unfocused. It moves from topic to topic without any worthwhile detail about any specific topic. Concepts are not adequately explained -- either you already understand the topics in this book, in which case you don't need this book; or you don't already understand the topics in this book, in which case this book will not help you understand them. If you want to learn about database design, buy a good book on that subject (for example, Hernandez). If you want to learn about object-oriented design, buy a good book on that subject. If you want to learn about writing requirements, buy a good book on that subject. It is ridiculous for the first reviewer to suggest that this book teaches anything useful about writing requirements. Don't waste your money on this book - it's completely useless.Analysis and Design of Information Systems Overview

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