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Monster Media 1996 #14
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Monster Media No. 14 (April 1996) (Monster Media, Inc.).ISO
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SCIENCE.LST
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Science and Philosophy
----------------------
Berman, Morris: THE REENCHANTMENT OF THE WORLD, Bantam Books, 1984,
ISBN 0-553-24171-0, $4.95.
A rallying cry of "New Age" thinking against the stale mechanistic/
reductionist paradigm of traditional science. Refreshing.
Casti, John L.: COMPLEXIFICATION, HarperCollins, 1994, ISBN 0-06-016888-9,
$25.00.
Yet another popularization of complexity, emergent behavior, chaos,
theory of catastrophes, and other hot topics of the last few years. Well
written and accessible to the non-scientist (no math), this is
recommended as an introduction. Not as comprehensive as Gleick's book
(see below), but more up to date and covers additional topics.
Cohen, Jack and Ian Steware: THE COLLAPSE OF CHAOS, Viking, 1994, ISBN
0-670-84983-9, $12.95.
A re-examination of modern scientific thought. A fresh look at the
nature of the universe in light of chaos and complexity theory. Thought
provoking.
Dunham, William: JOURNEY THROUGH GENIUS, John Wiley & Sons, 1990,
CIP 89-27366.
Subtitled "The Great Theorems of Mathematics", the book recreates the
inspirational process that leads to breakthroughs in abstract reasoning.
Dewdney, A.K.: THE ARMCHAIR UNIVERSE, W.H. Freeman & Co., 1988,
0-716-71939-8.
A collection of SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN'S "Computer Recreations" columns.
Games, simulations, puzzles suitable for exploration by computer. Very
clearly and entertainingly explained.
Gaines, Helen Fouche: CRYPTOANALYSIS, Dover Publications, 1956,
ISBN 0-486-20097-3, $4.50.
The best and most comprehensive introduction to codes and ciphers,
and how to solve them. See also Kahn, below.
Gleick, James: CHAOS, Penguin Books, 1987, ISBN 0-14-009250-1, $14.95.
A very readable and entertaining survey of the hottest new topic in
science. Highest recommendation.
Kahn, David: THE CODEBREAKERS, 1967. [Abridged edition published in 1973 by
Signet (LC# 63-16109). Both editions unfortunately out of print.
The definitive history of cryptology and ciphers. The very best book for
beginners to the field. Read this as an introduction to the Gaines book
above. Get the unabridged edition if possible.
Hofstadter, Douglas: GÖDEL, ESCHER, BACH, AN ETERNAL GOLDEN BRAID, Vintage
Books, 1980, ISBN 0-394-74502-7, $11.95.
This book won Hofstadter the Pulitzer Prize for his crystal clear and
rhapsodic exposition of the borderlines of orthodox science and
philosophy. Extremely well-written and worthwhile.
Hofstadter, Douglas: METAMAGICAL THEMAS, Basic Books Inc., 1985, ISBN
0-465-04540-5, $24.95.
Subtitled "Questing for the Essence of Mind and Pattern", an outstanding
collection of essays by the most intelligent defender of the Mechanist/
Reductionist paradigm. Very well done and provocative.
Kelly, Kevin: OUT OF CONTROL, Addison-Wesley, 1994, ISBN 0-201-48340-8,
$16.00.
Subtitled "The New Biology of Machines, Social Systems, and the Economic
World", this is a fine introduction to artificial intelligence, genetic
algorthms, emergent behavior, complexity and chaos. More up-to-date and
complete than the earlier books on the same subject matter.
Koestler, Arthur: THE ACT OF CREATION, Macmillan, 1964 [out of print].
Koestler's magnificent unified theory of creativity, humor, and
evolution helped usher in "New Age" science. Must read.
Kosko, Bart: FUZZY THINKING, Hyperion, 1993, ISBN 0-7868-8021-X, $12.95.
An articulate explanation of the new field of fuzzy logic that is
revolutionizing the concept of artificial intelligence. Fun to read, but
makes you wish the book were three times as long with more technical
details.
Levy, Steven: ARTIFICIAL LIFE, Pantheon Books, 1992, ISBN 0-679-40774-X, $25.
Efforts of computer scientists to replicate the creation of Life itself,
but inside a computer. The companion book to Waldrop's COMPLEXITY.
Newman, James R. ed.: THE WORLD OF MATHEMATICS, Simon & Schuster, 1956, LC #
55-10060, [4-volume set] <out of print, unfortunately>.
A fascinating overview of the mathematical realm. Articles from the
past couple of thousand years of math literature. Pure pleasure to
browse through.
Oliver, Dick: FRACTAL VISION, Sams, 1992, ISBN 0-672-30248-9, $39.95.
An extensive exploration of Fractals, Chaos, and their implications.
Includes much C source for fractal graphics. This book / disk package
is well worth its high price.
Overbye, Dennis: LONELY HEARTS OF THE COSMOS, Harper, 1992, ISBN
0-06-015964-2, $13.00.
Cosmology and astronomy as the grand adventure of the 20th century.
Wondrous story of how new developments are changing our view of the
universe.
Pirsig, Robert: ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE, Bantam Books,
1974, $2.25.
Philosophy of living connected to motorcyle repair. Fascinating.
Polya, G.: HOW TO SOLVE IT, Princeton University Press, 1973,
ISBN 0-691-02356-5, $2.95 [may be out of print].
Heuristic Reasoning: a methodical examination of the techniques of
problem solving and creativity. This book teaches by explanation and
example how to approach and attack problems. Highest recommendation.
Sawyer, W.W.: MATHEMATICIAN'S DELIGHT, Penguin Books, 1959, $0.95 [out of
print].
Sawyer, W.W.: A PRELUDE TO MATHEMATICS, Penguin Books, 1955, $0.65 [out of
print].
A brilliant two-volume introduction to mathematics for the non-
mathematician. Offers remarkable insights into the nature of
mathematical reasoning. Some of the most effective writing on
math ever done.
Sheldrake, Rupert: A NEW SCIENCE OF LIFE, J.P. Tarcher, 1981,
ISBN 0-87477-281-8, $7.95.
The theory of "Formative Causation", that patterns have an existence
independent of the material universe they influence. At the cutting
edge of "New Age" science.
Talbot: THE HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE, HarperCollins, 1991, ISBN 0-06-092258-3,
$10.00.
A very readable introduction to the "living universe" theories of
mathematician David Bohm. No science or math background needed.
Tuma, Jan J.: ENGINEERING MATHEMATICS HANDBOOK, McGraw-Hill, 1970,
LC# 78-101174, 07-065430-1.
Excellent reference for the scientist/engineer. More useful than the
CRC Handbook.
Waldrop, M. Mitchell: COMPLEXITY, THE EMERGING SCIENCE AT THE EDGE OF ORDER
AND CHAOS, Simon and Schuster, 1993, ISBN 0-671-87234-5, $12.00
Finding "emergent behavior" in nature, in computer simulations - new
wave science may discover the Missing Link between matter and... Life.
Fascinating reading. See also Levy's book, ARTIFICIAL LIFE.
THE WAY THINGS WORK, Simon & Schuster, 1967, LC# 67-27972 [out of print].
A two volume "illustrated encyclopedia of technology" that explains
in detail and in diagram how machines, manufacturing processes, and
tools work. Partly out-of-date by now, but still worthwhile.
Whyte, Lancelot Law: THE NEXT DEVELOPMENT IN MAN, Henry Holt & Co., 1948
[out of print].
One of the early critics of the mechanistic/reductionist paradigm.
Inspired some of the "New Age" science a generation later. Still
worthwhile reading.
Zukav, Gary: THE DANCING WU LI MASTERS, Bantam Books, 1980,
0-553-13578-3, $3.95.
Zukav pulls the reader into the frontiers of physics, where science
merges into a rapturous sort of mysticism. One of the best of the
"New Age" science books.