A review by caterinaanna
Emergence: From Chaos To Order by John H. Holland

4.0

Not a light or easy read, even if you choose to ignore the maths in the boxes, but worth the effort. By sticking to a few of the many possible examples and explaining them in detail, Holland shows how complex behaviours can emerge from the repeated application of a few simple rules and how this behaviour can appear directed when constrained. I'm sure field has moved on since this was written, and perhaps some of the ideas in here are out of date or have led to dead ends, but that he doesn't claim to have all the answers is something that makes the book a refreshing change from the gee-whiz popular science books that I seem to pick up more often. I don't usually need to make use of a pencil and paper when reading these days, but didn't resent having to do so in this case.