"My presentation is concerned with explaining the scientific foundation of three elusive concepts: uncertainty, inequality, and unfairness. ... I am a physicist so I tend to think about solving problems in a particular way and this gives me the advantage of method. I apply the same method I use in my work to such questions as the existence or non-existence of certainty, equality and fairness in society"
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Complex Worlds: Uncertain, Unequal and Unfair by Bruce J. West Black Rose Writing
book review by Wendy Strain
The primary focus of West's work is not whether fairness, equality, and certainty exist, but rather why there is such a disparity between what we feel should exist and reality. "The question addressed in this book is not whether the world is fair, the evidence clearly shows that it is not, but whether it ought to be fair." Where do we get this abiding sense of justice in spite of all the evidence to the contrary?
West provides a well-organized discussion attempting to answer this question from a scientific perspective based on statistic modeling and long-tail evaluation. Divided into six major sections, unit headings reveal this logical order: How Scientists Think; Uncertain: A Simple World View; Unfair: A Complex World View; Unequal: Matters of Scale; Complexity Management; and An Apology for Complexity.
His approach is relatively unique in that it asserts that the complex systems of society can be measured through scientifically accepted means by looking for the patterns that exist within society. Because the material is not presented in a strictly scientific format, the author has leniency in adding some of his less supported ideas to clarify his thought process and his conclusions. When this occurs, however, his conclusions and insertions seem reasonable.
However, a more detailed look through the table of contents might feel a bit daunting. It offers chapter titles such as "Normalcy," "The Importance of Linearity," "Linear and Random," and "Statistics, Spectra and Scaling." Don't worry if you aren't sure what these terms mean, though. The author takes the necessary time to explain what he means in terms the non-scientific reader can follow and ensures the discussion of each idea is presented in everyday vocabulary where possible to increase readability.
While the tone of the book is necessarily strongly scientific, both due to the nature of the content and the personality of the writer, it is reassuringly approachable. West has a clear appreciation for the art of story to make complex ideas relatable to the average person. With each point he makes to outline his thought process and conclusions, he is careful to insert explanatory anecdotes which illustrate the concept discussed. Many of these stories are humorous, keeping the voice light and friendly.
As the book draws to a conclusion, West provides the reader with a summative review of his argument and draws connections between what he has discovered and some of the more important questions facing our world today. While the primary focus of the book is on measuring complexity which normally occurs on a grand level such as national or global, West also provides a number of ways in which the information presented can be beneficial to the individual reader in terms of memory and decision-making. Throughout the book, West continues to draw connections to the familiar to show how such applications might be made. Acceptance of these ideas represents a new direction in thinking about complexity and mathematics. The book concludes with the idea that using the new mathematics, complex systems of the world can be better understood and managed.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review