From the Bookshelf of Science and Inquiry…

At Home in the Universe: The Search for the Laws of Self-Organization and Complexity

Stuart A. Kauffman

Start date: August 1, 2011

Finish date: August 31, 2011

Discussion: Book Club 2011

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Book Club 2011

September, 2011: The Blind Watchmaker
By David · 47 posts · 151 views

last updated Jun 21, 2018 05:08AM

April 2011 - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
By David · 32 posts · 163 views

last updated Feb 20, 2017 11:56PM

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What Members Thought

Aug 04, 2011 David Rubenstein rated it it was amazing

Shelves: mathematics, biology, technology

This is the type of book I like best; the author, Stuart Kauffman, describes his own research into a new field called "complexity theory". Kauffman builds simulations of lattice networks, and explores their characteristics. He shows how the simulations are analogous to chemicals combining, and may shed light on the origin of life. He claims that the simulations show that the origin of life may not have been an improbable accident, but instead may have been almost inevitable. Auto-catalytic react ...more

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Aug 08, 2011 Cassandra Kay Silva rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science

Read David's Review. I think he captures the main points about this book that are important. It was an interesting proposal the way the author sets up complexity to reflect mathematical ideas, his proposition of the way of biological creation. I was very interested in his proposals and he was very clear on the work in this area and the basis that it is built on. I can't say that I have any way of checking his hypothesis. Only to say that it does seem quite sound and well put together. That the d ...more

4 likes · Like · see review