4 comments about Introduction to Dynamic Systems: Theory, Models, and Applications.

1. I studied this book for two semesters as a doctoral student, and consider it the best mathematical textbook ever written. Luenberger writes concisely and with great clarity and elegance. His notation is crisp and easy to follow. The book begins with basic concepts of matrix algebra and dynamic equations, and then builds step-by-step to encompass an enormously broad set of applications. The examples are drawn from all over the map, and are great fun to explore. This is a truly mind-expanding text.

   Thomas P. Lyon, Associate Professor, Business Economics and Public Policy, Indiana University




2. The economic application examples are interesting for engineering students.



3. This introduction to dynamic systems is presented with an algebraic formalism which makes things clear and concise. All concepts are explained intuitively as well as formally, having in mind the objective of making things clear. Few books exhibit such a good approach and other reviewers are right when they emphasize the highly pedagogical quality of Luenberger's books ! This is no overstatement.

   The advantage of using this algebraic formulation lies in the simplicity as well as the understandability of the state-space approach, which is best explained in those terms. Most books assume that everyone knows what a state space is without explicitly showing what it is really about. This book just uses the reverse assumption, in that you're not asssumed to know everything before getting into it.

   Only some basic knowledge in algebra (undergraduate-level) is required but even without experience in algebraic formalism, it is possible to go through the content thanks to the important number of examples and the intuitive explanations.

   A must-read !




4. This "2001 edition" (according to Amazon) was actually copyrighted in 1979. While the book remains very useful, prospective consumers may wish to consider a good used copy in order to save some money.
   
   Although the publication date is misleading, at least Wiley correctly prints the original copyright date within its "new" texts (there are other examples of this practice). Springer-Verlag performs still greater magic. In "Linear and Nonlinear Programming", also by Luenberger, Springer decided to print the copyright date as 2003 instead of 1984, thus giving the impression that the text contains an up-to-date treatment of the subject matter. If I were buying a copy of "Green Eggs and Ham", I would not care about an incorrect copyright date. However, where technical subjects are concerned, this practice borders on fraud (in my view). It is a deliberate attempt to deceive its customers into believing that they are purchasing something more current and relevant than is actually the case.

5 comments about Signs of Life: How Complexity Pervades Biology.

1. This is a very interesting book. Athough there is some available literature on the recent advances in complex systems, it is often too general for the readers interested in having a good picture of how the area is developed and what type of (really) new advances are taking place. I think that this book, together with some literature on chaos (particularly Ian Stewart's book "Does God Play Dice?") and self-organization (I would strongly recomend Coveney's book "The Arrow of Time") provides a very useful guide to some of the most interesting findings, particularly within biological sciences. Although the most recent breakthroughs in complex networks are not there (not surprisingly) and the range of topics is certainly broad, I think the authors did a pretty good job in presenting a well-defined picture of the importance of emergence and phase transitions in genetics, ecology, evolution and brain dynamics (to cite just a few). You might agree with their views or not, but I think their enthusiam is contagious and makes you seriouly consider these ideas. The boxes, even if not allways self-contained (more references in the final list would have been helpful) trigger further interest in knowing more about the underlying maths and physics. Given the limitations imposed by a popular science book, I think they did a good job. This book should be a must-read for everyone interested in complex systems but also to those who feel that the analytic (so called reductionist) view of reality needs to be complemented with a wider perspective. I am myself molecular biologist, and in spite of the success of my own field over the last decades, I think it's time for some fresh air. Both approaches are needed and this book can give you a first glimpse of why the two approaches are required. I enjoyed reading it and loved the final paragraph.



2. This is what overviews of scientific fields of research should be like. The book begins in a gentle manner with an introduction into non-linearity, chaos and complexity. Many somewhat detailed technical steps are shown in text boxes and there are many illustrations to try to convey the information to a casual reader.

   In fact, this book bridges the gap between general overviews (something like Gleick's "Chaos") and much more scholarly presentations ("Complexity : Metaphors, Models, and Reality"). I suspect some non-technical readers won't make it very far but that is more likely due to the fact that they spend too much time on things they don't understand. Many important aspects of complex adaptive systems in biology are reviewed using many different examples. Both theoretical and real-life examples are typically used to help make the point.

   It is evident that the authors not only really understand the subject, they are also passionate and have excellent writing skills. Kauffmann is cited frequently but I suspect that most who have read "Investigations" will likely get a much better idea of his thesis when they read this book.

   The only minor point: why no commentary on where we appear to be rushing? Or better yet, why nothing about the philosophical implications of complexity? Perhaps the authors wanted to keep this book as non-controversial as possible and thereby potentially have it as an "official" reference but I cannot see why people should be upset by drawing some conclusions. Unless, of course, it is simply because some of the conclusions are so scary.

   This book should be standard reading!




3. If you've ever been in a traffic jam, chances are, you've also engaged in a coordinated, complicated activity with other drivers - without even knowing about it. They are called traffic density waves. How can that be? How can you engage in large-scale behavior and not know it? It happens because of emergent behavior that results from simple algorithms in our driving. It happens to you, just like it happens to ants, bees, and termites. These simple rules result in unexpected, large-scale order. It's what Sole and Goodwin would call "order for free."

   Sole and Goodwin begin with one of the best introductory summaries that I've seen of simple chaotic behavior in nonlinear systems. The interesting thing about these systems is the way in which complicated behavior results from repetition and feedback using simple rules.

   Later descriptions of biological systems carry this theme forward, and constitute some of the most interesting reading in this book. For example, in the chapter on "Ants, Brains, and Chaos," the authors describe a model that simulates the raiding patterns of army ants. Observing these insects from a distance, one might be inclined to wonder at the appearance of a higher purposeful component to the movement of colony. With simulations, however, the authors have argued convincingly that the basic patterns seen in the foraging of army ants result from relatively simple algorithms built into the individual insects. These simple algorithms, at the individual level, result in large-scale behavior that has no obvious causal connection to the algorithms that are their cause.

   A similar chapter on the human brain helps us see that our own intelligence is most likely the amazing consequence of emergent behavior resulting from the interconnections and interactions of an unimaginable number of connected neurons in our brains. As such, it begins to make sense that what we call "ourselves" is really an emergent property of cells that is as unrelated to individual members as the marauding patterns of army ants is to the simple algorithms operating on the level of individual insects.

   Yet another fascinating example from the insect world is that of mound-building termites and nest-building wasps like those that infest my barn each year. Again, with computer simulations, the authors illustrate that beautiful wasp-like nests can be created using automata with simple algorithms that belie the complexity of the structures that emerge from groups operating under simple rules.

   After reading page after page of examples, one begins to get the sense that self organization is a rule of nature. It seems to be everywhere - almost to the degree that we might marvel when it does not appear. This, I believe, is one of the underlying messages in "Signs of Life:" That the order and complexity we perceive is actually the result of simpler algorithms operating in (mostly nonlinear) systems with feedback. That there is a broad range of emergent properties that can, and often do, result from such systems. The authors also argue against the idea that all this complexity is directly encoded in the DNA of organisms. Instead, the organism must encode only the simpler rules of engagement (rules like: 1. smell a pheromone? 2. Dropt the dung) and that the complexity results as "order for fee" through the naturally occurring emergent property of nonlinear systems.

   Later chapters describe life as being an emergent property on the edge of chaos. There is lots of interesting information here, relating to evolutionary biology and describing how "the edge of chaos" facilitates evolution, and can result in wildly unpredictable outcomes. This part of the book also has worrisome implications for public policy. For example, here in Oregon, the Federal administration recently decided that too much analysis was going into wildlife management. So they decided to cut through the red tape, ignore biologists, and limit water flows in the Lower Klamath drainage basin.

   Sole and Goodwin would argue that complex biological systems are very complex, and that their response to sudden changes in conditions can result in wildly unpredictable outcomes. We saw that here in Oregon, recently, as tens of thousands of fish died. Biologists attribute this disaster to parasites that live naturally in the water at all times. However, the lowered flows, and higher temperatures, in the river stressed the fish and pushed them closer together. The weakened fish were subsequently more prone to infection, and the closer proximity facilitated dispersal of the disease. The population reached a subsequent threshold where an epidemic ensued, killing a significant fraction of the fish, and putting people's lives in turmoil who depended on the fish for their livelihoods.

   This example illustrates the problems and dangers inherent in managing wildlife populations. Though bearcats may yearn for simple solutions, these systems are, in fact, complex. Simplistic thinking and/or the inability to engage in sophisticated modeling and prediction can result in disasters. This is as true for the Klamath River basin as it is for Earth's climate and the likely effects of widespread pollution from gases that trap heat near the earth, and raise the global temperature.

   This is not an easy book to read. It has many equations, and much of the mathematics is non-trivial and involves concepts from nonlinear systems that many readers may not be familiar with. Other terminology in the book is equally aimed at people who already have some exposure to the science at hand. I hope that does not dissuade you. Often, the mathematical details can be skipped (though you will miss some of the most interesting stuff that way). And a dictionary can help you with unfamiliar terminology. Just be aware that this book will demand more of your intellectual capacity than the typical science book that's been written for the arm-chair scientists. But I think it's worth it. I certainly enjoyed it.




4. This book is filled with chapter after chapter of 'gee-whiz' factoids and equations about some interesting attempts to make some scientific sense out of the nature of biological systems. All the appropriate buzzwords: 'complexity', 'emergence', 'chaos', 'neural nets', 'fractals', and so on are amply represented. As a compilation or overview of the research efforts into these various areas, this book succeeds reasonably well. For this, it gets three stars.

   They explain to us in the Preface, "The consistent theme that runs throughout...is the understanding of biological processes in terms of complex dynamics from which emerge characteristic patterns of order. The objective is to show how scientists are thinking in this area and what tools are available for understanding the creative process."

   But, there is no concluding chapter, no summarization, no binding coherence beyond some vague sense of it all being somehow complex stuff, from ant colonies to brains to stock markets. All the different chapters convey their different messages and that is that. It all sounds important, highly scientific, cutting-edge, and intriguing. Gee, isn't it all amazing?

   When it is all said and done, however, there is very little about biological systems that is actually explained by all these sexy topics.

   An unintentional byproduct of this overview - what is most glaringly apparent when the dust settles and the mind clears - is the feebleness of all these efforts in making much of a dent in understanding life to any serious degree. And I think if there is one lesson to be taken away from this book, it ought to be that. For that feebleness makes a deep statement about the cogency of the application of the types of modalities presented to the problem of life, and about the notion of 'emergence' in general as being a computational problem.




5. 'Signs of Life' is a book that strikes fearsomely at the heart of life itself. It shows how many diverse complex phenomena relate to the elements of complexity, order and disorder - all of which lie essentially at the core of all living things. This is a book of PATTERNS, not PROCESSES. As such, most aproximations (models) are necesarily tautological in that they express consequential logic and do not demonstrate any real ocurring process - even though the models predic similar patterns.
   Aditionally, I believe you can learn a lot from this book - as a person - if you can learn to seek these patterns in daily life.

3 comments about Chaos and Time-Series Analysis.

1. For those wishing to upgrade their grasp of chaos theory, dynamics, nonlinear data analysis, with an introduction to related aspects of complexity including fractals and complex systems, this is the best book I have yet seen, and supplements the excellet visual dynamics books by Ralph Abraham. It arose from the upper level course taught by Sprott at the University of Wisconsin. The book is well supported by his website, which will always keep the book updated. It is nicely hands-on with lots of exercises and a programming project with each chapter. For those impatient to write programs, having a program like Berkeley Madonna to solve systems equations is handy for exploring some of the example systems. It has three excellent appendices, one a catalog of 62 dynamical systems, another useful mathematical formulas, and the last a compilation of useful journals. I found it incredibly comprehensive covering all aspects of the many subjects. And exceptionally clear, updating any necessary mathematics with clear explanations...



2. I had heard about this book from a friend with an interest in nonlinear dynamics; this is surprising in itself, since the book has been out for less than a year and already seems to be getting a positive reputation. The book more than lived up to my friend's recommendation. It is encyclopedic and remarkably clear. For anyone who is interested in linking nonlinear dynamical theory with empirical methodology, this is the best place that I know of to start.



3. This book covers a lot of material on chaos and fractals briefly but in detail. The writing is very clear and engaging; the mathematics is presented clearly. This book is especially notable for its clear descriptions of the algorithms used to do the analyses described, and for its accessible coverage of methods for analyzing data (rather than equations) from complex systems. It would be particularly useful for ecologists (and possibly economists) with long-term data sets to analyze.

No comments about Fly Me to the Moon: An Insider's Guide to the New Science of Space Travel.

No comments about An Introduction to Systems Analysis Techniques (2nd Edition).

No comments about Mobilities.

1 comments about Mastering Simulink.

1. This book is very detail explain of the using SIMULINK.
   
   I recommend to the starter using SIMULINK.
   
   It's very helpful..

5 comments about Facts and Mysteries in Elementary Particle Physics.

1. If you "understand" at least to some extent quantum theory you will enjoy this book. It is not described by math equations but Good writing and Analogies.You Must understand elementary particles to get quantum physics and mechanics to understand how they work since it's so different from our daily reality, you must visualize. I have read enough books and looked up info on the net to grasp the sense of quantum theory and it's counterparts, Read "Parallel Worlds" By Michio Kaku, He describes things so easily. 4 stars because no book is a five yet for me except the book previously Mentioned because of it's simplicity and wide variety of topics covered. Good luck opening your mind.



2. 
   This is a unique book.
   
   First of all, the paper, font, diagrams, and cover are wonderful. It's really a nice looking book cover to cover.
   
   Next, the author includes biographies of people involved in the field. The writing is candid and humorous. The biographies don't read like a textbook at all. They include his own opinions, as well as interesting anecdotes about the people.
   
   Finally, the author includes some of his own personal story in the book, regarding his work in particle physics. It's nice to see a first-hand account. I enjoy his commentary.
   
   All these things make this a special book, and worth reading.
   
   The author can be somewhat grumpy, but you have to take that with a sense of humor. Consider that physicists (I am one) tend to be literal and often TOO honest, at the risk of being blunt or awkward. So try not to be put off.
   
   Some parts of the book are a bit tedious. If you really want to understand the topic, read some other books along with this one. If there's only one book to get, try Oerter's "Theory of Almost Everything". But if you want a few books, then definitely include this one.



3. Muy bien explicado si tus conocimientos sobre física de partículas no son excelentes. Matemáticamente sencillo de comprender



4. This is a well structured book which describes developments in modern physics in an in-depth and comprehensive way.
   .
   After a preliminary discussion of basic physical issues, the author launches into a detailed, yet non mathematical, outline of the standard model of particle physics which he rightly says is a beautiful model indeed. His discussion of this is a highlight of the book and the book is worth buying for this chapter alone. He then goes on to discuss quantum mechanics as well as discussing aspects of relativity pertinent to particle physics.
   
   Understanding the basic elements of the universe did not happen overnight but rather was the fulfilment of a combined effort of a large number of people. At all stages throughout the book, the author illustrates the contribution of the various personalities involved, and does it so that the reader appreciates the erstwhile contribution each person made. The author himself made a significant contribution.
   
   Of course, not just the `who' is relevant. How they achieved the various breakthroughs is also important and the book's discussion of the history and development of modern accelerators and particle colliders is of particular interest.
   
   Finally the discussion of the theory of particles and of interactions within particles concludes what is an enjoyable and interesting book on topics that are justifiably regarded as complicated, yet are dealt with in the book in an easy and very readable way .
   
   This book is recommended for all who wish to appreciate current ideas about the basic elementary particles of nature and would like to have an understanding of these incredible `building blocks' of our wonderful universe..



5. Martinus Veltman has a rare gift - to have indepth knowledge of a complex subject, and be able to give the layman a plausible explanation of it. I have almost completed my second reading of the book. Such was the wealth of information, and my eagerness to read, that I could not take it all in on the first reading. The reader must persist with some of Dr Veltman's language quirks , but this is a minor criticism - the effort is handsomely repaid. His character profiles (occasionally caricatures), and personal stories, add a human dimension, and serve to point out that it takes many brilliant and hard working people, not just theorists and not just Nobel Prize winners, to create an edifice as grand (and yet fragile) as the Standard Model. Highly commended - a beautiful legacy for future generations.

5 comments about An Introduction to General Systems Thinking (Wiley Series on Systems Engineering & Analysis).

1. In computing, a timeless classic is anything that is worth reading for any reason other than to obtain a historical context after five years. If that still holds true after twenty five years, then it is truly an extraordinary piece of work. That label applies to this book. It is not about computing per se, but about how humans think about things and how "facts" are relative to time, our personal experience and environmental context.
   Human thinking is a complex operation and that is the point of this book. The problems and examples presented are not those in computing, but problems in how we think about the world and how that world can be different from person to person. In many ways, Weinberg anticipates the development of the science of chaos, where small changes lead to disproportionate large changes. His example of the "small" change of a single character is a classic. A man was considering the purchase of a piece of real estate, but when told the cost was fourteen million dollars, sent the response by telegram, "No, price too high." However, somehow a character was dropped, so the agent received the message, "No price too high", purchased the property and so a classic error was invented.
   Weinberg uses science and mathematics as the genesis point for most of his examples. The laws of thermodynamics, chance and simulations in state spaces are used to demonstrate the points. As someone with a wide background in science, I found his examples of how scientific thought gives us an anchor but yet alters over time excellent learning material. Thought problems are included at the end of each chapter and they cover many different areas. Some involve mathematics, others science and many could be the point of a vigorous philosophical debate. Together they form the best collection of thought experiments and points of contention that I have ever seen gathered together in one location.
   This is a book that is a true classic, not in computing but in the broad area of scholarship. It is partly about the philosophy and mechanisms of science; partly about designing things so they work but mostly it is about how humans view the world and create things that match that view. This book will still be worth reading for a long time to come and it is on my list of top ten computing books of the year.



2. Weinberg distills the essence from von Bertalanffy's classic and manages to present it in a very accessible fashion. The book has been out of print for quite a while so it is great to see a new edition. The message and information contained in here, although originally published in 1975, is now more relevant than ever.

   Weinberg covers many aspects of systems theory beginning with the main stumbling block with the present scientific paradigm: the idea that the universe is mechanistic. His treatment is much more general than Robert Rosen's in "Life Itself" but still conveys why the mechanistic notion is flawed.

   He then outlines the general systems theory approach before leading into the idea that a system is simply a way of looking at the world. He then outlines the principle of indifference. This leads straight into two sections outlining various aspects of making observations. Finally he discusses behaviour and then some general systems questions.

   Throughout the book he uses many examples from disparate fields in conjunction with questions for further research. It is great to see someone who doesn't preach systems but actually uses the ideas.

   Definitely a must-read as we decided how to solve the myriad of issues before us.




3. I was searching for an alternative to the out-of-print book 'Quality Software Management, vol.1: Systems Thinking', written by the same Author.
   Having read few Sofware Management series books from the same Author, which I rate at the very top of my list, I was biased on very high expectations. Surprisingly, I have found it being quite verbose and in the end, I couldn't get too much inspiration out of it.



4. This book is excellent. I first read this book in graduate school in 1976, and I continue to find Weinberg's ideas useful. It was outstanding then, and it has held up with time.



5. Weinberg's book will not teach you how to be a systems thinker. It will, however, provide a stimulating discussion and thoughtful examination of an alternative approach to problem analysis and solution. The book is not so much about how the systems approach works or how it can be applied to complex problems as it is an invitation to his readers to explore their perceptions of what they think they know versus what they really do know. Throughout the book, Weinberg follows the strategy of leading the reader through a series of logical discussions designed to bring them face to face with their biases and misconceptions about systems vs. reductionist thinking. In doing so, Weinberg exposes the shortcomings of the reductionist approach to problem solving by demonstrating to his readers that the real solutions to some familiar and apparently simple problems are very complex.
   
   Through his examples, Weinberg shows that by viewing a system holistically within its environment, we may be able to discern patterns of behavior/actions and recognize interactions, interrelationships, and interdependencies among the components that will be missed in a reductionist approach. From that view, we can better understand the system and, perhaps, better predict how it will evolve over time. The success of his approach is demonstrated by the fact that people are still reading and quoting his book 25+ years after it was written.
   
   One facet of this book which I found beneficial may be a drawback for some readers. Weinberg wrote from the viewpoint of a computer programmer and a scientist. A person not versed in either field might have difficulty understanding his examples.

5 comments about Turbulent Mirror: An Illustrated Guide to Chaos Theory and the Science of Wholeness.

1. While this book does make some interesting points about chaos, I found that the book's blatant disregard for accepted science very hard to stomach. I currently attend Harvey Mudd College, a small, but highly regarded science and engineering school, so I like to think that I know something about the subject.

   For example, at one point the authors are describing solitons (a term I had never heard before), states a theory that by generating an extra bit of energy we could put the universe out of the unstable equilibrium it currently exists in and cause it to "begin to boil." While this is all well and good, it makes vast assumptions that the authors neglect to mention. Most importantly it assumes that the universe is in an unstable equilibrium, a fact which although highly unlikely is not impossible. Secondly it assumes that the universe is completely clean of these bits of extra energy currently. They draw this parallel to an example of superheating water because without external particles to build upon no bubbles can form to release the steam. This is also true, but it is still impossible because it is impossible to have a perfect system like this. There are always going to be minute cracks in the pot, or imperfections in the water (fractal theory, covered earlier in the book, even states this!), and so while this might be theoretically possible it will not happen in any real world environment. The book has many other places like this where the authors conveniently leave out details that might weaken their arguments. I find this to make the book as a whole very frustrating to read, even if some of their points are valid.

   Another reason that I find the book to be very frustrating is that everything is very sensationalized. At the beginning of the description of fractals the authors say that the first person to think of a fractal curve created "a panic among mathematicians that took some fifty years to resolve." I find it truly hard to believe that the entire mathematical community was pulling their collective hair for fifty years trying to explain this curve, but by phrasing it this way the authors make it seem like science as a whole does not want to accept new ideas because it would make them look bad. In reality though I think the scientific community is ready to accept anything that can be strongly proven theoretically, or experimentally (just look at relativity, or quantum).

   Because of all of these failings I would not recommend this book. I am sure that there are many other better books about chaos theory that do an excellent job of describing it without disregarding the rest of science, or trying to place it in places where it does not necessarily belong.




2. I've finished this book's Chinese version today. In the last year, I'm trying my best effort to absorb knowledge of Chaos Theory, Complexity, and Catastrophe Theory. It's quite hard to get a in-depth guild of the above knowledge to common people in Hong Kong.

   My purpose to get the above knowledge is just in order to find the hidden order of financial market, and, of course, to make profit from the market. That's why I find this book is good to serve my purpose. It explained clearly on fractals, the relationship between chaos and order, and non-linearness.

   I knew E. Peters has using fratals / Elloit Wave Theory to analyze financial market. Of course, it needs more intra-day data to try to find such fratals in a small scale period, e.g. in a 5-minute charts. But I guess that, such fractal are existing in the market, if you watching index movement everyday.

   On another aspest, the technique of plotting data in a phase space is a tool to get the picture of financial market to me. This tools can be compared with weighted moving average, MACD, or other technical indicators. Though, phase space analysis is quite uneasy to a man without advanced mathematics. I'm quite sure such mathematical technique may apply to financial trading.

   Besides, the idea of "quasi-periodic" is likely describing financial market. Though I got less knowledge from the book on this topic. It sounds like some ideas from William Gann, and other cyclist writings.

   Hince, I'm benefitted from the book to enlighten new view point to see the world, and the market. I recommend any financial market practitioner to read this Chaos Theory guild and then reread some technical analysis classics, and reviewing their trading strategies. I believe that shall be worthy in one's trading life.

   N.B. The picture 2.7 is missing (P.76), and there is some printing errors in its Chinese version which printed in 20.6.1997




3. A wonderful synthesis of science at the edge. A grasp of how scientific methodology is changing to accommodate the revelations of chaos theory. The used edition I read was from 1990 and is prescient even now (alas). The informed and illuminating evidence that revolutionizes the current Neo-Darwinistic paradigm of molecular evolutionary theory towards the end of the book was particularly refreshing. John Briggs and F. Peat's thinking is so strikingly lucid, informed, and visionary that this book will fail to make almost any lecture list where it is most needed for years to come.



4. Here is an easy to read exposition of the theory of order out of chaos and how the natural world arises from basic natural processes repeated over and over again. The relevance of fractals to this study is given as well as a description of psychic processes. A must read for anyone interested in the new science. All the more complex theories of interest to the magical endeavor are based on the ideas presented in this book. It's an excellent companion to James Gleick's "Chaos."



5. This book is hard to find, contains a bit too much math (you can kind-of skip it if it overwelms you), it is out of print, hard to find and exagerates a bit some times but, if you read through it your perspective on life, causality and human behaviour will change and you will have a better understanding of un-undestandable things.