Chaos

Making a New Science

By: James Gleick

Narrated by: Rob Shapiro

James Gleick explains the theories behind the fascinating new science called chaos. Alongside relativity and quantum mechanics, it is being hailed as the 20th century's third revolution.

©1998 James Gleick (P)2011 Random House

Critic reviews

“Fascinating . . . almost every paragraph contains a jolt.” (The New York Times)

“Highly entertaining . . . a startling look at newly discovered universal laws.” (Chicago Tribune)

“An awe-inspiring book. Reading it gave me that sensation that someone had just found the light switch.” (Douglas Adams, author of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy)

Chaos and structure

This is a well crafted work by a great writer who tries to explain a complicated science filled with scientific buzz words as a more simple and understandable science. You really need some understanding of science and research to understand this work. Basically to me it is about non-linear complex systems that have threads of non-randomness, that if they can be understood, can open the door to the future for great advances in science, engineering, and civilization. As an engineer this work helped clarify many of the processes I have encountered and provides great historical background about what is Chaos Theory.

Wow, welcome to a non-linear world!

What made the experience of listening to Chaos the most enjoyable?

The mind bending story of non linear physics was fascinating and applicable to my world as a wellness professional.

What other book might you compare Chaos to and why?

Fear & Loathing in Los Vegas

What does Rob Shapiro bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The stories are fascinating!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, however as soon as I finished, I started it again, this time slower.

Any additional comments?

If you are stuck, read this!

Soothing and Fascinating

Rob Shapiro is the voice of James Gleick as far as I'm concerned. This and his reading of The Information are both fantastic.

way too advanced for me

what I could understand I really enjoyed. thought I was smarter, but not even close!

Best AudioBook on Math/Physics yet

Wow. What a great book. I had no idea that this was a book about both math and physics. I'm a math major and a calculus two student and this book has helped me to get inside the thinking of a Mathematician. It helps to show what types of problems they work on and how they think as they attack the problems. It introduces one to the culture of Math and the real world applications of physics.

As with any audio math book, there are some parts where you might have trouble visualizing the shapes being described. I dealt with this by looking them on online later. but that was only about three times during the nine hour book. Overall, there were not too many parts where I could not keep up with the math. Maybe one or two times; however, it wasn't really needed to keep up with the flow of the story. The book is more like a story. I enjoyed the real world examples and the journey through much of the research that led up to choas theory. The book doesn't just introduce the people who's research led to choas theory; it takes one through the basics of thier experiements and results. You share in the triumphs and problems. Overall a great book for people who like physics, math, theory, and thought.

Chaos

Great narration.

I enjoyed this, at least, what I understood of it. I couldn't always track though. The concepts and terminology were often times opaque. I especially liked the parts on biology and defibrillators.

Another great one by James Gleick

After listening to this book, I think chaos in every aspect of my life. “AUDIBLE 20 REVIEW SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY”

Reality: The Great Love Affair

As a former physics major, who has sustained an interest in the developments of science and mathematics, despite dropping it to pursue art the rest of my life, I found Gleick's romance with the aluring maiden Chaos, intensly engaging and immensely illuminating of a plethora of 'mere' intuitions, beginning with the one which urged me from science to art; I, "a dynamic system free at last from the constraints of (nailed down) order". I recommend this book to anyone in love with the reality of Dame Nature and her oft times baffling coquettery.

Superb wtory, writing, and delivery.

This is the title i recommend to everyone who are recently getting into audiobooks; riveting from start to end.

There's more we don't yet understand in the world!

Good informative book. But I still do not understand chaos. It does explain why college physics always seemed overly simplified and did not fully explain the phenomena of moving water, eddies, waves, clouds, weather, and the many things we see in nature.There is more to discover in natural phenomena and the world.
Narration was good and did not detract from the story. Book got a little long. I had to force myself to finish it.