From the dynamics of social networks to market bubbles, science has a lot to say about the world of technology.
One of the great discoveries of modern science was the realization of
how interconnected the world is. The deterministic, Newtonian view of
a clockwork Universe was replaced by the much more dynamic, uncertain and entangled
world of Quantum Mechanics. The new world is the one where Godel forever cut hopes for
completeness in mathematics and Turing showed that computation, like the future, is
fundamentally unpredictable. Despite these unexpected setbacks, modern science
is wonderful, powerful and thought provoking - and relevant to technologists.
The recently discovered science of complex systems is about common patterns that span diverse disciplines from physics to biology, from ecology to economics. This recent science of patterns is directly relevant to what we are doing around the Web. In this post we will discuss 5 different books that will get you fired up about modern science.
This Pulitzer Prize winning book is a mind-opening journey that spans science, computation, zen, art, music and much much more.
The book is most unusual in the way it tells its story. Some chapters are dialogs between Achilles and Tortoise. Other chapters
are focused on Bach's fugues and the theorems of great German mathematician Kurt Gordel.
Throughout the book, Hofstadter discusses the work of M.C. Escher, a painter famous for his paradoxical paintings that question how the mind perceives space. In addition, the book features chapters about modern genetics, zen buddhism and neuroscience. All of these seemingly diverse topics come together to discuss recursive structures, the mind, artificial intelligence and computation.
Stephen Hawking once said: "I think the next century will be the century of complexity." Complexity science is one of the most
important breakthroughs in recent history. Unlike the traditional specialized approach to science, complexity focuses
on patterns and properties that exist across different branches.
Mitchell Waldrop's book introduces readers to complexity by telling a story about the people who brought it into the spotlight. Among the characters we meet are economists, physicists, biologists and computer scientists responsible for establishing the Institute of Complex Systems in Santa Fe New Mexico. Through their stories, Walldrop introduces the reader to the wonderful and profound world of complex systems.
Dr. Stuart Kauffman is one of the characters in the Walldrop's book. He is one of the most passionate, dedicated and original
thinkers about Complex Systems. A few decades ago, while in medical school, he wanted to understand gene networks and came up
with a model known as K-N nets. Fascinated with the ideas, he choose science instead of medicine and went on to work on complexity.
In this book he explores a range of fascinating topics - like gene networks, auto-catalytic sets, rugged landscapes. It ultimately leads to the question of the origin of life. In this challenging book, Kauffman postulates that life is not an accident, but an expected and even inevitable consequence of the laws of self-organization.
During the twentieth century scientists made amazing discoveries about the brain. They also discovered just how little we know
about the function of what is likely to be the most interesting and powerful object in the universe. Among the large number
of books written on the subject, this book written by Danish journalist Tor Norretranders is a standout.
The books builds on physics, particularly thermodynamics, to explain the fascinating aspects of human consciousness. While the first few chapters are somewhat challenging, the crux of the book will give you a unique, eye-opening perspective on the interplay between the human brain and mind. Among the shocking things in the book is a notion that it takes a half a second for our consciousness to process an event. Knowing that, it is difficult to think about the world in the same way.
Quantum Information Theory is one of the hottest topics in science and Seth Lloyd is one of the hottest figures in the field.
Famous for his bold predictions about the computational capacity of the universe, Dr. Lloyd belongs to the club that thinks that
we live inside of a gigantic quantum computer. Sounds interesting? It is!
The book works the readers through the ideas of quantum information theory, explaining qbits, quantum superpositions and computation based on atoms. He argues that random fluctuations in the quantum foam produced higher-density areas, then matter, stars, galaxies and life. His conclusion is the same as Kauffman's - life is not an accident nor its divine. Rather, life is a consequence of the laws of computation and self-organization.
There are so many great science books on topics ranging from physics and biology to economics and social science. These books discuss patterns in the world around us. And many of the themes are very familiar to us, technologists. This is why it is important for us to keep up and know what is going on in the world of science. Besides being fascinating, it is increasingly applicable and useful.
And now, please share with us your favorite science books - the ones that made a big impact on you and helped expand your mind.
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I am not sure if my mind is big enough to wrap itself around some of the subject matters in these books, but I am going to give Programming The Universe a read.
http://jwojdylo.wordpress.com
Posted by: Jesse Wojdylo | October 1, 2008 9:06 PM
'A Short history of Nearly Everything', by Bill Bryson
Posted by: Gabba | October 1, 2008 10:33 PM
On another book I would say Cialdini's "Influence: The psychology of persuasion" is a social science book analysing why people say yes - arguably the most important book a entrepreneur could read to help them understanding marketing and sales techniques.
Posted by: Elias Bizannes
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October 1, 2008 10:51 PM
On another book I would say Cialdini's "Influence: The psychology of persuasion" is a social science book analysing why people say yes - arguably the most important book a entrepreneur could read to help them understanding marketing and sales techniques.
Posted by: Elias Bizannes
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October 1, 2008 10:52 PM
Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin. Fascinating "prequel" to On the Origin of Species.. Also a great travel story.
Posted by: Jonathan A. Eisen | October 1, 2008 11:02 PM
i think Voyage of the Beagle is a classic. As are the autobiographies of Feynman. Not pure science but fascinating nevertheless
Posted by: Jonathan Eisen
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October 1, 2008 11:03 PM
Check out "The Feynman Lectures on Physics". :)
Posted by: Dan Grossman | October 1, 2008 11:12 PM
This isn't a groundbreaking book like the others mentioned in the top 5 list, but "Universe on a T-Shirt" by Dan Falk does an excellent job of explaining complex science in an easy to understand way. He discusses subjects like quantum physics and string theory in a way that anyone can understand them.
Check it out: http://www.amazon.com/Universe-T-Shirt-Quest-Theory-Everything/dp/1559707070
Posted by: Chris Luckhardt | October 1, 2008 11:28 PM
Wow, those look great! Did you have to go and add more to my reading list, however?
A Short History of Nearly Everything's also a great read, if on a slightly different angle...noticed that in the comments and wanted to bump it.
Posted by: Zach Beauvais
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October 1, 2008 11:47 PM
I have read all books from 1-4
GED is amazing book it opens your mind
i must warn it's a long read and not an easy one be prepared
Complexity is a great book also gives you a taste of all the subjects around complexity
i recommend also
Hidden Order: How Adaptation Builds Complexity (Helix Books)
by John Holland (Author)
Posted by: David | October 1, 2008 11:51 PM
Dick Teresi's "Lost Discoveries: The Multicultural Roots of Modern Science from the Babylonians to the Maya" is a well-researched book that puts all modern science in perspective.
You can read my review here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R28NRFC1H6RIW8/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm
Posted by: Shefaly | October 1, 2008 11:58 PM
Keep going on, we need you so bad. No need to weast our time doing notihng, more books selectd and distanguished books are so desired.
Thank you for being you
Posted by: Asaed A. Asaed | October 2, 2008 12:18 AM
Given that 2 and 3 are in my all time favorite (non-fiction) books, I'm looking forward to reading the other three. The comments already have some additional gems.
Great post!
Posted by: Berkay | October 2, 2008 12:43 AM
Dugg for GEB
Posted by: web design | October 2, 2008 2:51 AM
Secret History of Consciousness by Gary Lachman
Posted by: Katrineholm Uncensored | October 2, 2008 3:34 AM
I enjoyed this book very much:
"Emergence: The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software" by Steven Johnson
Posted by: Lars | October 2, 2008 3:55 AM
What books, man?
We are too busy reading blogs and cutting code for our Web 2.0 apps.
You can't read a book on an iPhone anyway, so just forget it.
How about you read them for us and we'll download the MP3s?
Posted by: mukzz | October 2, 2008 4:31 AM
Complexity is great, but I recommend "Linked" by Albert-Laszlo Barabasi as an easier introduction to Chaos and Complexity theories.
Posted by: Shay | October 2, 2008 4:36 AM
Expanding the mind is such a wonderful thing!
JIff
http://www.privacy.es.tc
Posted by: JIff Reilly | October 2, 2008 4:41 AM
Another great science book, Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge by E.O. Wilson.
Posted by: Jim | October 2, 2008 5:18 AM
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn is a fantastic book that will definitely expand your perspectives on science. It's the book that coined the term "paradigm shift" and has been influential in both the academic community and mainstream science articles since its publication in 1962.
Posted by: Matt | October 2, 2008 5:39 AM
I'm very glad to see The User Illusion on this list. It has lived under my bed for about 5 years and I think I've read it at least 15 times. The first few chapters are very technical and can feel a little challenging to get through at times but they really do enhance the "mind candy" you get to in later chapters.
Readers should also seek out "The Dreaming Universe" by Fred Alan Wolf.
Posted by: j.m. wilkinson | October 2, 2008 5:43 AM
May I recommend:
1. The Singularity is Near
2. Wholeness and the Implicate Order
3. The Cosmic Jackpot
4. The Physics of Immortality
Posted by: Mohamad Latiff | October 2, 2008 5:45 AM
Godel, Escher, Bach made a big impression on me as well. Two others that spring to mind:
"QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter" by Richard P. Feynman
"Proust Was a Neuroscientist" by Jonah Lehrer
Posted by: Ted Murphy | October 2, 2008 6:18 AM
The Singularity is Near definitely !
Posted by: BobZ | October 2, 2008 6:26 AM
And without Reason in Revolt ?
Posted by: anh | October 2, 2008 6:37 AM
I second QED by Feynman, or pretty much any book by Feynman.
And just to cause a bit of controversy... Penrose's "Emperor's New Mind"?
Posted by: Rafael | October 2, 2008 7:24 AM
One more great read- David Sloan Wilson's "Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives"
Posted by: dks | October 2, 2008 7:29 AM
The Trouble With Physics: The Rise of String Theory, The Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next...
A great account of how physics in the last half-century has failed to present a revolutionary concept because of the obsession with string theory and its inability to be experimentally tested.
Posted by: Dennis Zlotnik | October 2, 2008 7:30 AM
There are so many great science books that flip the way I think about the world, but one that I still return to after all these years is:
Dragons of Eden by Carl Sagan
It's a pretty light read, nothing terribly complicated, but there is something so inspiring in the way that Carl Sagan brings wonder and excitement to the world of science and especially the evolution of human intelligence.
Posted by: Marta Strickland | October 2, 2008 7:33 AM
thank you, Alex, this is a great list of books to share. RWW always brings us excellent materials to read. It's just great.
"Programming the Universe" is really good. It is not only because of the discussion of quantum computing that makes it good. Moreover, the book has shown so many thoughts on understanding the fundamental of information and information processing, which could be very critical for the future of Internet computing.
I have written two parts of review of this book before, which could be interesting if any one of you would like to watch a few content before diving into the book.
Part 1, and Part 2>/a> are here.
Besides, "Linked" is indeed another great book that might also be in this list.
Yihong
Posted by: Yihong Ding
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October 2, 2008 8:08 AM
just a small addition if anybody is interested. one of the largest inspirations to me was isaac asimov's 'intelligent man's guide to science.' it was a collection of two books that compounded some ideas i'd developed without any real foundation (haw haw) of scientific consistency to back it up.
for teens interested in science and who have read or written any science fiction i think it can be a great eye opener. it is written so as to be easily readable and contains many contrary theories that highlight both its antiquity and the fact that the knowledge we gain from scientific methods is never concrete, but it is never so blunt as to be forcing a point, which is an aspect of scientific writing that i think is often overlooked.
Posted by: brandan | October 2, 2008 8:13 AM
well i am sure i am going to read atleast 3 of them thx. since i am doing my science honors so these will be helpfull for me
Posted by: saurabharya | October 2, 2008 8:14 AM
The Ancestors Tale, by Richard Dawkins
The Power of Myth, Joseph Cambell
There's one I read over and over and over until I lost it. Black Holes and Warped Spacetime. My introduction to astrophysics and cosmology. I can't remember who author was.
Posted by: Peter | October 2, 2008 8:16 AM
@34 Peter,
Black Holes and Warped Spacetime by Kip Thorne was on my shortlist, almost made it but I choose Seth Lloyd's book instead because it is more modern. Nevertheless, Kip's book is by far my favorite book on cosmology, I like it better than Hawkins books because of how it builds up.
Posted by: Alex Iskold
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October 2, 2008 8:20 AM
The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins is the book which has far and away impacted me the most. In the book itself he stays far away from discussing the implications of his theories on humans but it only takes a small leap in your own mind to put it together and begin to understand how nearly every human interaction that goes on is guided by the invisible hand of our genes rather than by the supposed free will that we have. To also introduce the concept of the "meme" (in an almost off hand sort of way) is something which the larger part of society is only finally starting to come to grasp in small steps.
Posted by: Will | October 2, 2008 9:50 AM
Wonderful gems - thanks for that.
And here even more gems which are related to this ones according to amazon.com
Godel, Escher, Bach, by Douglas Hofstadter
Complexity by Mitchell Waldrop
At Home in the Universe, by Stuart Kauffman
The User Illusion, by Tor Norretranders
Programming the Universe, by Seth Lloyd
Enjoy
martin
Posted by: Martin Dudek | October 2, 2008 10:02 AM
I'd nominate "Chaos: The Making of a New Science" by James Gleick. This was a very, very interesting read, particularly if you've always liked the notion that nature is too complicated to know, but possible to understand.
Posted by: Mike | October 2, 2008 10:08 AM
This list tracks these books:
http://www.bookhuddle.com/list/2053/5-Great-Science-Books-To-Expand-Your-Mind
Posted by: Bookhuddle | October 2, 2008 10:17 AM
Good selection of books. They aren't all that new - Waldrop's been around for a good many years - but lasting ideas aren't about fashionability (well, OK, sometimes they are). I've invested my research and practice focus on applying complexity science to organizational design and leadership, something that is very easy to get excited about and which is so much more on the mark than traditional linear thinking.
Posted by: Milton | October 2, 2008 10:21 AM
Another excellent book is entitled, "The Cosmic Landscape: String Theory and the Illusion of Intelligent Design", by David Susskind. Many diffcult concepts, from string and folded dimension to rugged landscapes are touched upon in the book. Terrific insights available to the determined reader.
Posted by: jack121121b | October 2, 2008 11:11 AM
"The Mind's I" is brilliant.
I also second Gabba's pick - "A Brief History of Nearly Everything"; it's easier to read than GEB and you'll find you won't be able to put it down.
Posted by: John R | October 2, 2008 11:21 AM
While many of these books are math and physics oriented (as are those in the comments), I found "The Red Queen: Sex and the evolution of human nature" by Matt Ridley a good read. Its quite accessible and well written.
Does GEB get easier after the first 2 chapters? Its a heavy book to come home to after a long day.
Posted by: Greg | October 2, 2008 11:40 AM
I second The Selfish gene. V Ramachandran's The Emerging Mind is also awesome.
Posted by: Sandeep | October 2, 2008 12:12 PM
I can't believe you forgot "The Elegant Universe" by Brian Greene. Easily the best mind-opener ever!
Even if you don't believe in string theory, it's a great book to get you thinking about the world around you!
http://www.amazon.com/Elegant-Universe-Superstrings-Dimensions-Ultimate/dp/0393058581/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222974722&sr=8-1
Posted by: anon | October 2, 2008 12:12 PM
Web of Life, by Fritjof Capra.
Fantastic, weaves a fantastic story about complexity, emerging systemn, ecology and environmental health.
Posted by: James-oh | October 2, 2008 12:26 PM
'Cosmos' and 'The Demon-Haunted World' by Carl Sagan are great science books.
Posted by: Rob | October 2, 2008 12:39 PM
"Endless Forms Most Beautiful" by Sean Carroll is quite good as well. Evo-devo is quite an interesting field of biology.
Posted by: Sharkey | October 2, 2008 12:39 PM
If you like Godel, Escher, Bach...I highly recommend the same author's follow-up "Strange Loop". Very, very interesting read.
Posted by: Matt | October 2, 2008 12:43 PM
All wonderful books. Will give me lots to read over the next few years. As far as influential books, The Bell Curve, to me, is the most important work ever written about our society. It answered for me important questions about why our educational system does not work no matter how much money we foolishly throw at it and, perhaps more interestingly, why we came to have a relatively small group of wealthy, influential people and a much larger, much poorer, much less influential, underclass.
I know it is controversial, especially among popular press authors who have not read it, but if you want the unvarnished, politically incorrect truth, I highly recommend this important work.
Posted by: Mike Barker | October 2, 2008 12:58 PM
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