Sync

How Order Emerges from Chaos in the Universe, Nature, and Daily Life

By: Steven Strogatz

Narrated by: Kevin T. Collins

Length: 13 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

The tendency to synchronize may be the most mysterious and pervasive drive in all of nature. It has intrigued some of the most brilliant minds of the 20th century, including Albert Einstein, Richard Feynman, Norbert Wiener, Brian Josephson, and Arthur Winfree.

At once elegant and riveting, Sync tells the story of the dawn of a new science. Steven Strogatz, a leading mathematician in the fields of chaos and complexity theory, explains how enormous systems can synchronize themselves, from the electrons in a superconductor to the pacemaker cells in our hearts. He shows that although these phenomena might seem unrelated on the surface, at a deeper level there is a connection, forged by the unifying power of mathematics.

©2003 Steven H. Strogatz (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

" Sync is a wonderfully lucid and thoroughly entertaining story of the emerging science of synchrony." (Brian Greene, author of The Elegant Universe, Professor of Physics and Mathematics, Columbia University)

"Inspiring... offers a real sense of what it's like to be at the beginning of Something Big." ( New Scientist)

"Beautifully written and breathtaking in scope, SYNC tells both a personal and a scientific story." (Charles S. Peskin, Professor of Mathematics and Neural Science, New York University)

Best math audio book

I would rate Sync as one of the best mathematics audiobook that can be enjoyed and understood (even in audio format). Steven Strogatz is a pioneering mathematics professor working on chaos theory and non-linear dynamics. He has successfully integrated his understanding of the principles of synchrony and emergence of synchrony in various natural phenomena and came out with a intuitive, entertaining book mixed with historical anecdotes. Must buy book for any science loving audible listeners.

An Excellent Science Audio Book

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this book to friends interested in broadening their knowledge of curious sciences. This book skirts the pictures, formulas and diagrams which can be frustrating to listeners, but still delivers a deep understanding of the subject.

Sync is a terrific counterpart to James Gleick's Chaos. Strogatz and Gleick Both hint at the profound implication that everything relates to this self organizing property.

Any additional comments?

I know I'm giving all 5 stars to this review. I'm just a layperson, and this book did not fail to deliver thought provoking, real, material in an understandable way. Maybe a science major would have a lesser opinion, but I'd still feel we would agree it was a good audio book.

A lot of information

I was especially interested in human sleep cycles related to other circadian the rhythms.. There were a lot of topics. He gives a lot of detail about the methodology

Fascinating, and strives to be down to earth

Where does Sync rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I will focus my comments on the "audio" aspect of the book.

I tried to read this in book form but I found I could get through more pages per sitting in the audio format. That being said, the narrator is way too slow! I was lucky in that fumbling with my new iPhone6 I accidentally engaged a feature that sped up the playback. It sounded a little odd but not high pitched. I am not sure I would have continued otherwise.

I thought I would be going back to the paper version of the book to understand the concepts better, but I found that by listening I was not bogged down by details and the fluidity of thought was preserved.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Sync?

As to the book itself:

I think that Steven Strogatz does an admirable job trying explain some difficult mathematical topics in a generally accessible way. Perhaps it would be helpful to have some familiarity with higher level math concepts, but I do not think it is necessary. What I love best is his enthusiasm and curiosity. That is really what the book is about.

Special English

The Voice of America used to broadcast on shortwave using something called "special English". It was a very slow delivery, with pauses between words. I was reminded of that while listening to this book. The delivery is not quite "special English" but it's close.

I am trying to get through this but the delivery of the narrator is making it rough. I may have to bail. Pity, because the subject matter seems like it might be interesting, although it hasn't been interesting yet.

Excellent

Themes wonderfully elaborated, disparate concepts unified, beautiful tapestry of synchronization in nature. Strogatz is a superb communicator.

Quantum Mechanics and the unified theory of synchronicity

I have dreamed about the above someday becoming meaningful. This book definitely enforced my confirmation bias to that end. wished i had found it years ago...

Shockingly Good

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book contains ideas with a beauty that is difficult to express. There is a constant tension in the air - a feeling that you are on the brink of some fundamental pattern in the universe, but you can't put your finger on what that is. I would recommend this book to anyone without qualification.

What other book might you compare Sync to and why?

I haven't found one yet aside from the more formal "Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos"

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

Yes, I couldn't stop listening to it. In fact I was driving and had to pull over because it was so engrossing.

Any additional comments?

Do not be afraid or unsure for any reason - the book is pitched such that you could listen to it without even knowing addition.

My kind of book, science or otherwise.

Delightful study on harmony in the natural world. Well written, though the author is fond of generalizations. Love the sympathetic pendulum clock story. Bought 3 metronomes to reproduce it. Marvelous demonstration.
Thank you, Mr Strogatz.

Transformative and illuminating

Loved it! The whole book from start to end is well thought out. Re-read, because it's worth it... a book that imparts more fascinating inquiries about our synced reality. The narrator sure sounded great too!