CHANCE AND CHAOS

One of the founders of the rapidly changing field of chaos theory and nonlinear dynamics, David Ruelle provides a thumbnail history of its development and impact on the other sciences. Mixing his personal experiences in the field with his vast scientific background, Ruelle explores how chaos is an operative concept in dynamics, meteorology, biology, economics and the social sciences. The text presupposes a good scientific vocabulary, but British reader Ralph Cosham’s liveliness and precision are a great help through the denser parts. Additionally, Cosham is alert to Ruelle’s droll humor, enabling even the uninitiated to snicker a little at the games the physicists play. P.E.F. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPT 97]