• Chaos

  • Making a New Science
  • By: James Gleick
  • Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
  • Length: 10 hrs and 53 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,615 ratings)

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Chaos  By  cover art

Chaos

By: James Gleick
Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
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Publisher's summary

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)

What listeners say about Chaos

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Evolving science

I enjoyed the book,not because I understood the science, bu that learn lI understand now how science working in various fields together can learn so much more. Also appreciate each other. Science set free. A life lesson

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Behind the scenes and more

Very insightful and challenging for the brain. I enjoy the stories of behind the scenes and the people who brought chaos to the forefront....or at least on it's way.

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Perfect summary of this field

I knew nothing of chaos coming into this book other than the butterfly effect. It was a great introduction to this new kind of science. This book will teach you about the creation of chaos theory and all of the significant figures involved. The author writes beautifully and the narrator did a great job. I found that the beginning was a little slow but it gets very interesting in the middle. The material was complicated but not too confusing. Great book for the intellectually curious reader.

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Chaos: making a new scientist

it's hard to find the right words to describe how meaningful and influential this book has been on my life. I've just finished listening to it for the 8th time and I have no doubt that the 9th time listening to it will be just as impactful. To any young professional in the STEM fields looking for direction and mentorship in a book: look no further, here lies your new bible.

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Fantastic Writer! Fantastic! Reader !

Fantastic Writer! Fantastic! Reader ! I would like to see more from both and I already have another of his titles (actually started with it). Thanks!

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Headed line

Require more math knowledge than I have to fully appreciate (MS in chemistry here. Good overall.

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One of the best books I’ve listened to

I didn’t expect to like the book this much. Ive listened to another book by the same author but it didn’t have the same impact. Great book.

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Excellent all around

This book was a great basic background in the development of chaos theory, and all the nuances. Of particular note is the great use of references to scientists in many other disciplines who had no idea about choas or how it impacted everything they were doing.

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For a (theoretical) physicist, this is gold

Fascinating subject; and the book does a good job at taking a historic perspective as well as go deep enough into the technicalities as well (gotta pay attention more than a few times…)

Would also recommend for non-physicists, but likely not getting as much out of it then (or getting other things out of it that I missed completely…)

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This book is life defining

I now feel myself to be set down an entirely new path in life as a result of reading this book, a path of infinitely more excitement, impact, and fulfillment. Thank you for this, truly and genuinely

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1 person found this helpful