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Sync How Order Emerges From Chaos In the Universe, Nature, and Daily Life by Strogatz, Steven H. [Hyperion,2004] [Paperback] Reprint
How Order Emerges From Chaos In the Universe, Nature, and Daily Life by...
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First published January 1, 2003
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August 9, 2023
The book brilliantly navigates through the chaos theory, revealing how patterns and order emerge in seemingly random system
Strogatz's storytelling prowess kept me engaged as I explored the various examples from the universe, nature, and even our daily lives. The seamless blend of scientific insights and real-world instances made this read not only enlightening but also relatable.
Strogatz's storytelling prowess kept me engaged as I explored the various examples from the universe, nature, and even our daily lives. The seamless blend of scientific insights and real-world instances made this read not only enlightening but also relatable.
March 27, 2010
This is a very entertaining book. I enjoyed every chapter of the book. I was especially intrigued by the biological rhythms--fireflies and human sleep cycles. And I thoroughly enjoyed the step-by-step history of how the mathematics of coupled oscillators was worked out.
As previous reviewers have mentioned, the book could have been helped by additional charts and diagrams--and even perhaps some equations. It is difficult to imagine some of the patterns the author describes, without some concrete reference. It would have been especially helpful in the chapter on chaos, when describing coupled strange attractors.
The chapter on networks seems like a summary of a much more detailed book, Linked by Albert-Laszlo Barabasi.
So, if the subject of networks intrigues you, I highly recommend that book, too.
As previous reviewers have mentioned, the book could have been helped by additional charts and diagrams--and even perhaps some equations. It is difficult to imagine some of the patterns the author describes, without some concrete reference. It would have been especially helpful in the chapter on chaos, when describing coupled strange attractors.
The chapter on networks seems like a summary of a much more detailed book, Linked by Albert-Laszlo Barabasi.
So, if the subject of networks intrigues you, I highly recommend that book, too.
April 17, 2020
Sync is excellent book that delves into chaos theory and complexity theory amongst others and the practical applications in human endeavour. Though it does not explicitly put down any equations, it is not an easy read simply due to the topic as well as the mind-blowing nature of its revelations. I would highly recommend this book to readers looking for something a bit challenging in physics while keeping the subject down to earth.
I feel the addition of some equations would have made this book a bit more readable. :-)
I feel the addition of some equations would have made this book a bit more readable. :-)
November 26, 2019
“For reasons we don’t yet understand, the tendency to synchronize is one of the most pervasive drives in the universe, extending from atoms to animals, from people to planets.” This fun and fascinating book, by a leading mathematician, examines sync, the “spontaneous emergence of order out of chaos.” It’s written in bite size chapters, each touching on every day realities we all encounter like sleep cycles.
“Sync also provides a crucial first step for what’s coming next in the study of complex nonlinear systems, where the isolators are eventually going to be replaced by teens and self, companies and people.” In the 17 years since this book, Steven Strogatz continues to apply cutting edge complexity theory, particularly sync, to areas mathematicians typically wall themselves off from like how communities can most successfully integrate. Terrific stuff!
“Sync also provides a crucial first step for what’s coming next in the study of complex nonlinear systems, where the isolators are eventually going to be replaced by teens and self, companies and people.” In the 17 years since this book, Steven Strogatz continues to apply cutting edge complexity theory, particularly sync, to areas mathematicians typically wall themselves off from like how communities can most successfully integrate. Terrific stuff!
August 28, 2016
A great multi-disciplinary introduction to the idea of complex systems obtaining order in a spontaneous way. It's funny that it seems like, at least to me, about half the reviews say they couldn't fully grasp all the ideas in the book while the other half claim it isn't technical enough. Some of the descriptions can be slightly hard to follow, but i think he does an outstanding job of helping the reader to visualize incredibly complex concepts. Personally, I'd rather the book be for the layman in the hopes that it could peak the interests of anyone despite their mathematical backgrounds. By making the book accessible to all, anyone can revel in the beauty of the universe that is often overlooked by the naked eye, despite the complexity of the concepts. These are concepts that, IMO, everyone should be aware of on some level because they permeate every scale and corner of the universe and are applicable to every discipline, concept, system, or part of everyday life. It's just a wonderful way to think... If it isn't technical enough, or even too technical, you can always use it as a launching point to explore whatever interests you the most since the book covers such a wide range of spontaneous order. Some math background (high school) definitely helps but is not completely required.
This book might but a 4 star, but i decided to be generous. Yea, yea, many of the analogies do not convey the true complexity of the theories they are describing, but that's because they simply can't. As I already said, you can always choose to dig deeper into any concept he presents. Generally, the concepts discussed are all tied together well, if not for a couple momentary lapses, and he writes clearly. I'm generous with my rating simply because I really enjoy concepts like sync, complex systems, chaos theory, etc. that seem to permeate reality at all levels. It's my belief that everyone, no matter their walk of life, should have some kind of awareness of pervasive natural laws that describe ourselves and everything around us as it can lead to understanding and acceptance, as well as insight into almost any issue. The multidisciplinary approach of this book really helps bring out that pervasiveness and highlights the idea of some fundamental connectedness between all things that can be formulated. The far left and right of a distribution of people based on scientific knowledge just may find themselves bored at times, but an open minded approach to this book opens many doors for subsequent research and, most importantly, new ways of thinking.
This book might but a 4 star, but i decided to be generous. Yea, yea, many of the analogies do not convey the true complexity of the theories they are describing, but that's because they simply can't. As I already said, you can always choose to dig deeper into any concept he presents. Generally, the concepts discussed are all tied together well, if not for a couple momentary lapses, and he writes clearly. I'm generous with my rating simply because I really enjoy concepts like sync, complex systems, chaos theory, etc. that seem to permeate reality at all levels. It's my belief that everyone, no matter their walk of life, should have some kind of awareness of pervasive natural laws that describe ourselves and everything around us as it can lead to understanding and acceptance, as well as insight into almost any issue. The multidisciplinary approach of this book really helps bring out that pervasiveness and highlights the idea of some fundamental connectedness between all things that can be formulated. The far left and right of a distribution of people based on scientific knowledge just may find themselves bored at times, but an open minded approach to this book opens many doors for subsequent research and, most importantly, new ways of thinking.
January 4, 2015
Probably the best book I've read this year. So many OMG moments
March 3, 2011
This is a great multi-disciplinary science book!
The reader is introduced to phenomena from many disciplines.
These phenomena are well-modeled by similar mathematics using non-linear oscillators.
The book requires little math knowledge, but it helps.
I plan to write my own computer simulations for some of these phenomena, and will link them to this review when I'm finished! :)
I do have one heated criticism of this book:
Strogatz defends Josephson's regurgitation of the most certainly incorrect view that quantum mechanics can somehow explain the para-normally supposed (and repeatedly experimentally verified to be non-existent!) phenomena of telepathy.
There are so many things wrong with this digression, I hardly know where to start.
Josephson did good work and was awarded a Nobel Prize. He's wrong about telepathy and all the other pseudo- and anti-science he's been dabbling with since.
Strogatz argues that the "allergic" response by the scientific community is a fault.
He couldn't be more wrong.
It's a virtue, and an important one.
To use a hyperbolic analogy (the likes of which Strogatz seems quite fond of), this reaction by the scientific community is indeed analogous to an immune response.
In this case, however, it is the body of science fighting off the infection of the cancerous mysticism.
So, reader beware, Strogatz has made a huge mistake here!
The reader is introduced to phenomena from many disciplines.
These phenomena are well-modeled by similar mathematics using non-linear oscillators.
The book requires little math knowledge, but it helps.
I plan to write my own computer simulations for some of these phenomena, and will link them to this review when I'm finished! :)
I do have one heated criticism of this book:
Strogatz defends Josephson's regurgitation of the most certainly incorrect view that quantum mechanics can somehow explain the para-normally supposed (and repeatedly experimentally verified to be non-existent!) phenomena of telepathy.
There are so many things wrong with this digression, I hardly know where to start.
Josephson did good work and was awarded a Nobel Prize. He's wrong about telepathy and all the other pseudo- and anti-science he's been dabbling with since.
Strogatz argues that the "allergic" response by the scientific community is a fault.
He couldn't be more wrong.
It's a virtue, and an important one.
To use a hyperbolic analogy (the likes of which Strogatz seems quite fond of), this reaction by the scientific community is indeed analogous to an immune response.
In this case, however, it is the body of science fighting off the infection of the cancerous mysticism.
So, reader beware, Strogatz has made a huge mistake here!
January 5, 2016
I enjoyed this book every bit as much as Gleick's book on chaos. Strogatz is an excellent writer. Able to convey complex concepts of chaos and synchronicity to the general reader, this book is for anyone with interest in the topic. If you don't fully understand chaos from one perspective, don't worry. Storgatz provides many.
With discussions of his own work as well as the work of mentors, students, and others in the field, Strogatz addressed the broad application of sync in the world and universe. Skilled at capturing the various personalities of people he has worked with, Strogatz also included interesting stories about many researchers in the field as well as interesting stories about the inner workings of academia. With examples from biology (ie., neurons, heartbeat, and sleep/circadian rhythm), to physics and engineering (ie., metronomes, super conductors, power grids, and the bridge in London), to social connectedness (ie., 6 degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon/small world model), and the future of sync studies (consciousness, evolution, immune system, the universe as a computer, and more), there are many fun things to learn about. I was also happy to learn about the lesser known role of Stanley Milgram in uncovering the 6 degrees of separation principle.
Who knew what the study of fireflies would bring? Excellent book.
June 13, 2020
So, what is this "Sync?" What is this book about? Good question! I'm still not sure, to be honest... Based on the synopsis, I was expecting it be more in the typical line of complexity theory, but I ended up learning more about things that I knew very little about, including the syncing habits of fire flies and the circadian rhythm of humans. I guarantee that this book contains some new information for every reader who is not called Steven H. Strogatz.
The central idea is that the phenomenon of "sync(hrony)" is a key driver of complex organization. It enables animal societies to communicate, the brain chemistry to function in harmony, etc... And there is certainly a lot here to digest, some of it very interesting indeed. Behind the central idea of sync lies mountains of interesting science across multiple disciplines and across multiple decades. For good or ill, the book takes a deep dive into deep science - sometimes to the point of impenetrable jargon. And this also poses a problem for the reader, since a lot of the mathematical and physical terminology is very technical and hard to grasp. It demands a lot from the reader, even though the author does a pretty good job explaining things with down-to-Earth metaphors. I would recommend this book for people are mathematically not just literate but semi-advanced. At the same time, I feel that the connecting tissue between the different phenomena from fruit flies to quantum computers is not quite as strong as the author would like to convince us. Some of the bold claims about the relevance of sync for a unified theory of everything do not pan out. It more feels like a potential network of interesting connections rather than a substantial revelation.
Although I wasn't fully convinced by the author's bold claims, and although it sometimes bogs down into an endless cavalcade of scientific studies that seem loosely connected, I did enjoy my time with the book for the most part. For someone interested in complexity theory and the phenomenon of spontaneous orders, I would recommend a few other books, including Complexity: The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos and Thinking in Systems: A Primer, over this one. However, if you are still craving for more, Sync contains tons and tons of fascinating facts, tidbits, and suggestions that should interest anyone who is convinced that the natural world contains a hidden order. Although it barely scratches the edges of a unified theory of everything, and although it ultimately oversells its premise, Sync is a bold little exercise in thinking (and syncing) outside of the box.
The central idea is that the phenomenon of "sync(hrony)" is a key driver of complex organization. It enables animal societies to communicate, the brain chemistry to function in harmony, etc... And there is certainly a lot here to digest, some of it very interesting indeed. Behind the central idea of sync lies mountains of interesting science across multiple disciplines and across multiple decades. For good or ill, the book takes a deep dive into deep science - sometimes to the point of impenetrable jargon. And this also poses a problem for the reader, since a lot of the mathematical and physical terminology is very technical and hard to grasp. It demands a lot from the reader, even though the author does a pretty good job explaining things with down-to-Earth metaphors. I would recommend this book for people are mathematically not just literate but semi-advanced. At the same time, I feel that the connecting tissue between the different phenomena from fruit flies to quantum computers is not quite as strong as the author would like to convince us. Some of the bold claims about the relevance of sync for a unified theory of everything do not pan out. It more feels like a potential network of interesting connections rather than a substantial revelation.
Although I wasn't fully convinced by the author's bold claims, and although it sometimes bogs down into an endless cavalcade of scientific studies that seem loosely connected, I did enjoy my time with the book for the most part. For someone interested in complexity theory and the phenomenon of spontaneous orders, I would recommend a few other books, including Complexity: The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos and Thinking in Systems: A Primer, over this one. However, if you are still craving for more, Sync contains tons and tons of fascinating facts, tidbits, and suggestions that should interest anyone who is convinced that the natural world contains a hidden order. Although it barely scratches the edges of a unified theory of everything, and although it ultimately oversells its premise, Sync is a bold little exercise in thinking (and syncing) outside of the box.
June 17, 2018
A great discussion of the all-pervasiveness of synchrony born out of non-linearities in systems. The anecdotes and occasional words of advice made the book all the more fun to read. This book would be liked by people interested in dynamical systems, inter-connectedness of apparently disparate scientific fields, and having a unified scheme of understanding the universe.
January 2, 2017
Steve Strogatz has gained popularity with his textbook, "Non-linear Dynamics and Chaos". I would say that his non-academic work, "Sync: The Emerging Science of Spontaneous Order" is an equally smashing hit. "Sync" explores the idea of how spontaneous synchronization arises in the chaotic turbulent lives/non-lives of diverse entities. Why do fireflies synchronize their flashing in the dark or how do crickets chirp in unison? Why do we wake up at almost our usual time, even after an all-nighter? Why do certain fads gain popularity in the market, while some die down quickly? Why did the Millennium Bridge start shaking when an unruly group of people stampeded it on inauguration day? These are some of the questions that Steve Strogatz addresses in this book.
I was really impressed with this book on so many fronts. As a computational science enthusiast, this book was a special treat for me. Strogatz fills the chapters with narratives where computers are used extensively for modeling various phenomena -- coupled biological oscillators, Josephson junctions, sync across social networks, chaotic synchronizers. The idea of a computer model seems almost banal by now, but Strogatz's experiments go way back when they were not so common. Strogatz's narration style is very gripping, and he generates sufficient suspense through his various experiments before giving the reader the thrill of successful result outcomes.
The applications covered in the book are diverse -- synchronous flashing of fireflies, the alpha rhythm of the brain, the circadian body clock, planetary and quantum sync, communication security, sync across the human network, to name a few. Since the applications and underlying mathematics is diverse, Strogatz handles the basics of each topic before he connects it to a sync problem. The descriptions are pretty layman, even to the point that not a single equation is provided in the book. My only complaint is that the book lacks pictures sometimes where they are necessary. At some points, I felt a diagram would have relieved the burden of description both on the writer and the reader.
Strogatz hopes in the epilogue of his book that he's given the reader a sense about how thrilling it is to be a scientist. I think he has. For starters, this book straddles across the boundaries of so many "fields", giving it a heavily interdisciplinary focus. For a problem in any application, Strogatz recounts many problems in other fields that exhibit the same behavior. He then shows how mathematics serves as the means to describe such problems, allowing scientists to then feed these problems to computing engines for visualization and assist them in discovering new theoretical avenues. Essentially, Strogatz demonstrates how scientists often need to see the unity in disparate problems of diverse fields, to express them in a common language, and cross-apply concepts to get solutions. Secondly, he focuses for a significant part on his own experiments and collaborations in the area of sync. He gets the advantage to narrate the story of his simulation crusades, impressing on the reader the enjoyment to be gained through pushing unexplored waters. And lastly, through the fun, he stresses the importance of scientific bravery where no fruitful applications are in sight. He's scattered sufficient examples through the narration where seemingly fun experiments for the sake of curiosity lead to crucial applications for mankind.
I was really impressed with this book on so many fronts. As a computational science enthusiast, this book was a special treat for me. Strogatz fills the chapters with narratives where computers are used extensively for modeling various phenomena -- coupled biological oscillators, Josephson junctions, sync across social networks, chaotic synchronizers. The idea of a computer model seems almost banal by now, but Strogatz's experiments go way back when they were not so common. Strogatz's narration style is very gripping, and he generates sufficient suspense through his various experiments before giving the reader the thrill of successful result outcomes.
The applications covered in the book are diverse -- synchronous flashing of fireflies, the alpha rhythm of the brain, the circadian body clock, planetary and quantum sync, communication security, sync across the human network, to name a few. Since the applications and underlying mathematics is diverse, Strogatz handles the basics of each topic before he connects it to a sync problem. The descriptions are pretty layman, even to the point that not a single equation is provided in the book. My only complaint is that the book lacks pictures sometimes where they are necessary. At some points, I felt a diagram would have relieved the burden of description both on the writer and the reader.
Strogatz hopes in the epilogue of his book that he's given the reader a sense about how thrilling it is to be a scientist. I think he has. For starters, this book straddles across the boundaries of so many "fields", giving it a heavily interdisciplinary focus. For a problem in any application, Strogatz recounts many problems in other fields that exhibit the same behavior. He then shows how mathematics serves as the means to describe such problems, allowing scientists to then feed these problems to computing engines for visualization and assist them in discovering new theoretical avenues. Essentially, Strogatz demonstrates how scientists often need to see the unity in disparate problems of diverse fields, to express them in a common language, and cross-apply concepts to get solutions. Secondly, he focuses for a significant part on his own experiments and collaborations in the area of sync. He gets the advantage to narrate the story of his simulation crusades, impressing on the reader the enjoyment to be gained through pushing unexplored waters. And lastly, through the fun, he stresses the importance of scientific bravery where no fruitful applications are in sight. He's scattered sufficient examples through the narration where seemingly fun experiments for the sake of curiosity lead to crucial applications for mankind.
September 3, 2019
Wow. What a terrific book. You would think that heavy tome written my a mathematician would either be an incomprehensible melange of words, or a complete bore. This was both cogent and fascinating.
Although published over 15 years ago, it still feels fresh, despite a few detours about the "good old days" of running computer simulations on what we now would consider hopelessly outdated hardware.
The premise that order arises in nature from non-intelligent sources is a provocative one. The youtube video showing spontaneous sync occurring with metronomes illustrates the phenomenon quite well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v5eB...
Other really interesting examples included: the wobble of the millennium bridge, Asian fireflies blinking together, and examples from both astronomy and quantum mechanics.
I can't say I grasped the entirety of the message, but this was a really fun ride through math, physics, biology, and philosophy. I look forward to reading more from Strogatz, who further endeared me with mundane descriptions of wandering through MIT campus, an experience that I could relate to on a surprisingly personal level.
Although published over 15 years ago, it still feels fresh, despite a few detours about the "good old days" of running computer simulations on what we now would consider hopelessly outdated hardware.
The premise that order arises in nature from non-intelligent sources is a provocative one. The youtube video showing spontaneous sync occurring with metronomes illustrates the phenomenon quite well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v5eB...
Other really interesting examples included: the wobble of the millennium bridge, Asian fireflies blinking together, and examples from both astronomy and quantum mechanics.
I can't say I grasped the entirety of the message, but this was a really fun ride through math, physics, biology, and philosophy. I look forward to reading more from Strogatz, who further endeared me with mundane descriptions of wandering through MIT campus, an experience that I could relate to on a surprisingly personal level.
November 8, 2014
The spectacle of synchrony in nature is one of those mysteries that strike a chord in us. Fireflies blinking on and off in unison. Schools of fish moving gracefully as if they were only one. Pacemaker cells in a heart working all together to make that heart beat. Menstrual cycles of female roommates and co-workers starting to match each other over time (yes, it's true!) And then there's the synchronization between things that aren't even alive: photons that align to form a laser beam; electrons marching in step in a superconductor; the moon turning on its axis at precisely the same rate as it circles the earth; and pendulum clocks that hang next to each other adjusting their periodic swaying, as Christiaan Huygens observed, "in a kind of sympathy".
Mindless, lifeless things can sync spontaneously, says Steven Strogatz, because the capacity for sync does not depend on intelligence, or life, or natural selection. It springs from the deepest source of all: the laws of mathematics and physics. Using math, Strogatz shows why synchrony is likely to happen in nature, and why in some cases it is inevitable. This is wonderful, fascinating stuff, and perhaps the best part of all is that there is still so much more to discover. We can't explain it all, admits Strogatz in the end: maybe we instinctively realize that if we ever find the source of spontaneous order, we will have discovered the secret of the universe.
Yes, maybe.
Mindless, lifeless things can sync spontaneously, says Steven Strogatz, because the capacity for sync does not depend on intelligence, or life, or natural selection. It springs from the deepest source of all: the laws of mathematics and physics. Using math, Strogatz shows why synchrony is likely to happen in nature, and why in some cases it is inevitable. This is wonderful, fascinating stuff, and perhaps the best part of all is that there is still so much more to discover. We can't explain it all, admits Strogatz in the end: maybe we instinctively realize that if we ever find the source of spontaneous order, we will have discovered the secret of the universe.
Yes, maybe.
November 25, 2020
This was a fascinating book. It is highly recommended for anyone interested. I particularly recommend the book to any young math students or high-school students aspiring to be scientist. The book gives glimpses into many different types of math that all give rise to complexity; it introduces some chaos theory, but mainly focuses on how emergent patterns arise out of dynamic processes. It has many exciting applications(sleep cycles, Mathematical sociology, networks, electronic grids, the brain, and human heart cells, to name a few) . Math and applications are nicely interluded by personal stories from the life of Strogatz. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I had a bunch of ideas for behavioral experiments (my field) along the way. The book also gives a fascinating insight into applied mathematics and how applied mathematicians works. Strogatz touches upon a lot of excellent methods apart from regular math, from numerical methods to topological reasoning using clay. I will pick up a copy of Strogatz 2019 book "Infinite Powers" very soon. Ps1 I came to heat about Strogatz at the mathematics YouTube channel ThreeBlueOneBrown which is nice to check out if you are in the market for entertaining math clips. Ps2 anyone reading this has any tip on a book that would serve as a "sequel" covering development in these fields after the book publications? Thanks!
January 15, 2009
This book is an interesting look at a number of phenomena that aren't as curious as the author makes them out to be.
The book focuses on instances of "spontaneous order-seeking" in nature. Cases where things start irregular, but tend towards an equilibrium which is ordered. Now, before you go jumping about the Second Law of Thermodynamics, he's claiming this for living systems, and at the macroscopic level -- he's talking about things like certain species of fireflies which spontaneously synchronize their flashes, or about how women will begin to cycle together if they live in close proximity. So there's agency involved in here, he's not claiming that some types of pottery shards, when dropped, will spontaneously rearrange into a dish.
He doesn't get terribly in-depth into these subjects (it's not a journal article), but he does have lots of interesting examples, and discusses the kinds of information/communication problems that have to be overcome for this kind of syncing-up to work. I'd recommend this book.
The book focuses on instances of "spontaneous order-seeking" in nature. Cases where things start irregular, but tend towards an equilibrium which is ordered. Now, before you go jumping about the Second Law of Thermodynamics, he's claiming this for living systems, and at the macroscopic level -- he's talking about things like certain species of fireflies which spontaneously synchronize their flashes, or about how women will begin to cycle together if they live in close proximity. So there's agency involved in here, he's not claiming that some types of pottery shards, when dropped, will spontaneously rearrange into a dish.
He doesn't get terribly in-depth into these subjects (it's not a journal article), but he does have lots of interesting examples, and discusses the kinds of information/communication problems that have to be overcome for this kind of syncing-up to work. I'd recommend this book.
April 21, 2012
Like many other books that try to prove that the world is not exactly linear/gaussian/causal that we learn in schools, this book too spans multiple fields, reveals surprising aspects of seemingly everyday life and shows the limits of normal scientific theories. But the book is no "The Black Swan", "Chaos (Gleick)", "Linked" or "The Tipping Point". Some of the key points are covered in the previous books. And the concept of "Sync" is not truly as encompassing as network effect, avalanche or chaos used by others. Sync is effectively spontaneous coordination - which is truly worth admiring in the case of fireflies, but appears like an artificial application when used for network effect (power law), many aspects of the Circadian rhythms and electrical grids.
Even though the concept is not as radical as in some more famous books, the advocation of non-linear complexity in simple language is well presented in an engaging manner.
Even though the concept is not as radical as in some more famous books, the advocation of non-linear complexity in simple language is well presented in an engaging manner.
July 22, 2014
The book is not an easy listen. Be prepared for statements like "the coherence of the neurons in our brain are best thought of as solving a differential equation to determine the equilibrium solution involved in the non-linear system....".
The book covers many diverse topics, from why does the face of the moon always face towards us to how does a laser work. The author ties all of the topics together by showing how each of the constituent parts acts to produce the whole system.
Each of the different topics was exciting, but I did not understand the topic well enough to explain it to others after having listened to the topic. That probably means he didn't explain the topic at a simple enough level for me to understand.
Any high school student or college beginner who is thinking about majoring in mathematics should listen to this book. The author presents the exciting diverse fields available for the math practitioner.
The book covers many diverse topics, from why does the face of the moon always face towards us to how does a laser work. The author ties all of the topics together by showing how each of the constituent parts acts to produce the whole system.
Each of the different topics was exciting, but I did not understand the topic well enough to explain it to others after having listened to the topic. That probably means he didn't explain the topic at a simple enough level for me to understand.
Any high school student or college beginner who is thinking about majoring in mathematics should listen to this book. The author presents the exciting diverse fields available for the math practitioner.
March 8, 2020
I’d like to see an update
This book was quite good, don’t let my three stars make you think otherwise. I liked many parts of the book - the history of the study of coupled oscillators, the parts related to circadian rhythms, small-world networks, and some other biological systems. I really liked most of the book, and while I thought this book had good figures in it, I thought it could have benefited from additional figures and equations. Mostly Strogatz chooses to use prose (for a non-technical audience) to describe systems that could otherwise be simply described by equation or depicted in a figure. I’d love to see how the ideas in the book have been applied to the last 15+ years of social media and the internet in general. Maybe there could be an updated edition?
This book was quite good, don’t let my three stars make you think otherwise. I liked many parts of the book - the history of the study of coupled oscillators, the parts related to circadian rhythms, small-world networks, and some other biological systems. I really liked most of the book, and while I thought this book had good figures in it, I thought it could have benefited from additional figures and equations. Mostly Strogatz chooses to use prose (for a non-technical audience) to describe systems that could otherwise be simply described by equation or depicted in a figure. I’d love to see how the ideas in the book have been applied to the last 15+ years of social media and the internet in general. Maybe there could be an updated edition?
April 22, 2012
Muito bem escrito, com uma descrição acessível da Teoria do Caos e de sistemas complexos, conseguiu integrar como vaga-lumes piscam em sincronia com ritmo circadiano, e redes complexas. Traz para o compreensível coisas bastante complicadas.
June 17, 2021
Forthcoming
September 20, 2023
Sync talks about the curious phenomenon of synchronization in nature. Sync apparently is also closely related to chaos and an integral part of how many systems - including physical, biological systems and social and communications networks-- operate. An appeal of the book for me was how he makes connections across fields, both in his discussions and his research .
Strogartz describes the math and science with enough detail to keep the mathematically skilled engaged while also keeping the topic approachable to those who are interested but not as facile with equations. I might consider this a “hard” Popular science book, analogous to a “hard” sci-fi book”: not quite a text but with some deep details. Much like the classic book Chaos but James Glieck sync makes a hard concept approachable and even entertaining.
Interspersed with engaging and entertaining (and at times amusing) anecdotes, the book also gives a sense of how science and math can be fun. If you enjoy books about the expiration of seemingly obscure math and science ideas and their application to real problems, Sync is worth a read.
Strogartz describes the math and science with enough detail to keep the mathematically skilled engaged while also keeping the topic approachable to those who are interested but not as facile with equations. I might consider this a “hard” Popular science book, analogous to a “hard” sci-fi book”: not quite a text but with some deep details. Much like the classic book Chaos but James Glieck sync makes a hard concept approachable and even entertaining.
Interspersed with engaging and entertaining (and at times amusing) anecdotes, the book also gives a sense of how science and math can be fun. If you enjoy books about the expiration of seemingly obscure math and science ideas and their application to real problems, Sync is worth a read.
July 25, 2021
Comparing this to James Gleick's chaos, this is definitely a more technically-minded text. But Gleick just wrote in a much more magical way that invited me into the field.
I do love this book though for showing me how wide-sweeping the study of nonlinear dynamics is. Considering I am beginning to center my research around the paradigm, it's great to know that I can almost never be bored with the potential fields I can dive into. Sleep cycles, cardiac pulsations, etc. all seem like interesting systems I will want to study one day.
There were some topics like network theory that didn't interest me as much though. Also, I feel like some portions of this book weren't geared to me. There were almost entire chapters that were trying to explain a differential equation using words that felt so long-winded. I felt like just showing the equation would have saved lots of trouble; but I understand that this is for a popular audience. Overall, enjoyed the book.
I do love this book though for showing me how wide-sweeping the study of nonlinear dynamics is. Considering I am beginning to center my research around the paradigm, it's great to know that I can almost never be bored with the potential fields I can dive into. Sleep cycles, cardiac pulsations, etc. all seem like interesting systems I will want to study one day.
There were some topics like network theory that didn't interest me as much though. Also, I feel like some portions of this book weren't geared to me. There were almost entire chapters that were trying to explain a differential equation using words that felt so long-winded. I felt like just showing the equation would have saved lots of trouble; but I understand that this is for a popular audience. Overall, enjoyed the book.
August 5, 2024
Very interesting book on sync and also on "science as a creative process".
I only gave 4 stars because some parts of the book were too difficult for me to follow.
Next step I want to 1) read this https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas... to get more understanding on the small-world model in action and 2) this https://www.sciencedirect.com/science... and this https://www.sciencedirect.com/science... and this https://academic.oup.com/scan/article... to understand sync between human minds.
We have long (Durkheim) understood the role of rituals to shortly synchronize the movements (and probably the minds) of the members of a tribe to increase efficiency and cohesion.
I only gave 4 stars because some parts of the book were too difficult for me to follow.
Next step I want to 1) read this https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas... to get more understanding on the small-world model in action and 2) this https://www.sciencedirect.com/science... and this https://www.sciencedirect.com/science... and this https://academic.oup.com/scan/article... to understand sync between human minds.
We have long (Durkheim) understood the role of rituals to shortly synchronize the movements (and probably the minds) of the members of a tribe to increase efficiency and cohesion.
July 15, 2023
Such an interesting book- I will admit that a lot of the concepts were way over my head but I absolutely loved the chapters on the syncing up of fireflies as well as our pacemaker cells. Whole idea of the book is how chaos is ordered and Strogatz uses scientific mathematical concepts to explain biological rhythms. I have no idea if Strogatz was a Christian, but the science in this book just increased my awe of God and His creation!! Very cool to think about synchrony in the universe and how everything really just beats in worship to the Creator- My mind will be entertained for the next few days by the thought of thousands of fireflies blinking in sync and worshipping God :)
June 24, 2017
Great insight into the phenomenon of sync and how hard it is to decipher non linear dynamic systems.
The part before the final couple of chapters is a slog to go through and not as interesting as the rest of the book.
Overall, a great read and recommended for people who want to read new things going on in the scientific world.
The part before the final couple of chapters is a slog to go through and not as interesting as the rest of the book.
Overall, a great read and recommended for people who want to read new things going on in the scientific world.
July 12, 2022
Loved the author's easy to understand journeying through different aspects of sync - from fireflies to Josephson junctions.
Amidst all of the science, there was a brilliant touch of gripping memoirs and an excellent way to tell a story.
Amidst all of the science, there was a brilliant touch of gripping memoirs and an excellent way to tell a story.
February 15, 2024
This book is quite different than his other math books for the general public. I didn’t have the background necessary for much of the topics, but his analogies and stories still let me access the content at a basic level. What I appreciate most is how he effortlessly shows the creativity and beauty of mathematics that unfortunately most people don’t get to see due to harmful educational practices. The creativity currently used in discovering mathematical concepts leads us closer to solving problems around topics ranging from heart arrhythmia to mob mentality. This makes me wonder how many questions have been left unsolved because so many people are taught to learn math as a rigid field of sterile processes.
January 19, 2024
Must read
UNIQUE INSIGHTS IN TO HOW SO MANY ASPECTS OF NATURE SHARE DEEPLY HIDEN ORDER. Would Strongly recommend this book to any one who likes to learn about nature
UNIQUE INSIGHTS IN TO HOW SO MANY ASPECTS OF NATURE SHARE DEEPLY HIDEN ORDER. Would Strongly recommend this book to any one who likes to learn about nature
February 6, 2022
Threshold, influence and adjustment.
Points:
Freewill (The imprint left a mark too)
Nonlinearity (The whole is not equal to the sum of the parts)
\Lorenz Attractor
Topology (Shape)
Hypothalamus & Suprechiasmatic nuclei (Master of the clock)
Linear differential equations (The whole is exactly equal to the sum of the parts)
Nonlinear dynamics (Emergence. Handful of variables)
Statistical mechanics (Big sample size but not good with oscillation)
Internally desynchronized (Disconnection with cycle)
Sleep (Temperature, Sunlight, REM)
\Forbidden zone
Network
\Six degree separation
\90/10
\3.65 movies
Three body problem
BZ Reaction
Notes:
Points:
Freewill (The imprint left a mark too)
Nonlinearity (The whole is not equal to the sum of the parts)
\Lorenz Attractor
Topology (Shape)
Hypothalamus & Suprechiasmatic nuclei (Master of the clock)
Linear differential equations (The whole is exactly equal to the sum of the parts)
Nonlinear dynamics (Emergence. Handful of variables)
Statistical mechanics (Big sample size but not good with oscillation)
Internally desynchronized (Disconnection with cycle)
Sleep (Temperature, Sunlight, REM)
\Forbidden zone
Network
\Six degree separation
\90/10
\3.65 movies
Three body problem
BZ Reaction
Notes:
March 12, 2017
Strogatz goes around showing us synchronization everywhere. He means everywhere in the whole universe. From small fireflies to big moons. Atoms and humans are also mentioned. For example, superconductivity and water freezing are just synchronization of atoms. Hey, you will feel his passion for the subject throughout his book; he is madly in love. Sometimes even throwing mind-blowing ideas around fun explanations on how order arises from chaos.
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