CHAOS Making a New Science

The author explores a little-known area of science called chaos theory, which demands that scientists take a giant leap of faith to study a discipline that makes the unpredictable predictable. Rob Shapiro’s deep voice and enthusiastic tone strike a balance between being serious but not staid, listenable but not cartoonish. His voice provides added accessibility to a difficult topic. But this is highly advanced stuff. While only a few, brief mathematical formulas are included, the focus is on the science, not the personal stories of the scientists. The presentation would be best for those who are intrigued with exploring the world of fractals and bifurcations—or those with a modicum of scientific curiosity. M.B. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2011]