General-Order

"Sync: The Emerging Science of Spontaneous Order" is a dissertation on synchronization and its place in the universe. Standard entropy theory has always indicated that a system that is orderly will, over time, move to a position of less and less organization. However, that is not always consistent with observations in real life. Steven Strogatz does an inspired job of describing how synchronization exists in such small areas as fireflies and plant leaves to much larger concepts of the universe and the asteroid belt in our solar system.

One of the more fascinating sections of the book deals with synchronization in human beings. It covers current research in areas such as sleep rhythms, circadian rhythms, the tendency for women to match menstrual cycles over time, body temperature rhythms, and various other normal cycles of the human experience.

This is a very academically oriented text that many with only a passing interest in such things might find too detailed and scientific for their likes. On the other hand, for those with a keen interest in the cycles of the natural world and current research into this emerging field this is one of the foremost texts on the subject. It is a highly recommended read for anyone with a desire to learn about how natural tendencies toward synchronization move us to spontaneous order.

Exactly what does "the emerging science of spontaneous order" actually explore? Why? So what? These were among the questions in my mind as I began to read this book, one which Strogatz may well have written for non-scientists such as I who tend to ask such basic questions. The science of synchrony applies all relevant resources from disciplines such as mathematics, physics and biology to examine and then explain how and why spontaneous order occurs at every level of the cosmos, in the smallest as well as largest measurable forms. Strogatz invites his reader to tag along as he examines diverse phenomena of synchrony such as fireflies that flash in unison by the thousands, human "body clocks," Christian Huygens' experiments and discoveries (e.g. in 1665 when his two pendulum clocks began to swing in unison once within a certain distance of each other), and the closing in 2000 of the Millennium footbridge in London after hundreds of pedestrians caused the bridge to sway dangerously as they adjusted their pace to its undulations.

As other reviewers have already noted, Strogatz explores synchrony in chaos systems, at the quantum level, in small-world networks as exemplified by the parlor game "six degrees of Kevin Bacon" and in human behavior involving fads, mobs and the herd mentality of stock traders. The author traces how the isolated and often accidental discoveries of researchers are beginning to gel into the science of synchrony, and he illustrates how the laws of mathematics underlie the universe's uncanny capacity for spontaneous order. For non-scientists such as I, authors such as Strogatz and Albert-Laszlo Barabasi (author of Linked) avoid highly technical concepts and nomenclature while examining an abundance of scientific research on the complexity of systems. Some believe that chaos may somehow mysteriously result in what are merely the illusions of structure and order. Strogatz and others assert that, on the contrary, everything really is connected (directly or indirectly) with everything else.

Long ago, Voltaire urged us to cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it. With all due respect to pioneer thinkers such as Strogatz, a great deal more scientific research must yet be completed and evaluated. Terms such as spontaneity, synchrony, and complexity may well be familiar but the nature and extent of their scientific causes and, more importantly, of their interrelationships (indeed of their interdependence) have yet to be fully revealed. Only then can the significance and implications of such realities be explored with appropriate focus, Strogatz suggests, if not fully understood for decades to come.

Sync is like a report from the trenches. And you like this report because it's clear, fun, and brings good news. There's this undercurrent of activity in the burgeoning realm of complex systems that's more and more bubbling to the surface, and Sync is a big bubble.

There's been a quiet stream of books bringing this realm to our attention, showing novel methods, interesting results, and surprising ways our lives may be changed and affected by it, such as Waldrop's 1992 Complexity, Levy's 1994 Artificial Life, Gleick's 1998 Chaos, Barabasi's 2002 Linked, and now Steven Strogatz's Sync.

These are like threads pervading human culture of the kind that result in a quiet but huge revolution. These threads affect our outlook and, like a good journey, expand the mind to reveal so many new possibilities. Steven Strogatz identifies one thread in Sync, which seems to be moving in decade long spurts: 1960s Cybernetics, 1970s Catastrophe theory, 1980s Chaos theory, 1990s Complexity, and 2000s Synchrony.

I would add that other threads include: the partial elucidation of how the mind works (Pinker, Dennett); the increased understanding of Darwinian evolution, and its manifestation not just in biology but in, for instance, the economy, culture (memes), and business (Dawkins, Maynard Smith); the deeper entanglement in quantum theory (Greene); and our ever increasing perception of the cosmos (Rees, Barrow).

These threads are merely the warp of a fabric. The weft, which traditionally consisted of mathematics (as a tool to explore and describe our world), now also includes algorithms, whose power as an exploratory tool has been enabled by the computer revolution of the past few decades.

Adding lustre to the fabric, Strogatz colourfully tells us the amazing story of synchrony, along with his own unfolding career, all interleaved with related inside glimpses of other scientists and their fascinating contributions. His descriptions are so clear and engaging that you end up learning many details, like how lasers work, how superconductivity functions, and what makes bugs tick. Strogatz himself comes across like the nerdy neighbour that you one day discover is not only really cool, but he's built a time machine that actually works, and you can have a go. And like a good journey, you look back with delight, and can't wait for the next one.

I keep this by my bedside so that I can look up each episode as I watch Law + Order every night on A&E. There needs to be an updated version, but until then this one will do. The writers have done their research but TRUE Law + Order fans will want more. This is the series that gives only the skimpiest of details about the main characters lives, and the book doesn't really add to our knowledge, it just compiles all the relevant facts about the character into one bundle, usually comprising about a paragraph. There are some unanswered questions, like why was the little guitar solo at the end of the opening theme dropped after a few seasons? It also fails to mention that this is the series that set the all time record for using apartment doormen and parking garage attendants as important sources of information. You could make a drinking game: when a valet or garage attendant gets shaken down by Lenny--bottoms up!

I am, without a doubt, THE BIGGEST "Law & Order" fan. I've seen every episode at least three times and I can tell you about all the actors and characters. I thought I knew everything there was to know about the show until I was given this book for a birthday gift. That's when I REALLY started learning about my favorite television show. Aside from the actor/character profiles, pictures, and run-down of all the villians, there's also the ever helpful episode guide that gives you a rundown of every episode ever aired! What more could you possibly ask for? Well, how about all the juicy gossip that went on behind the scenes. All the backstabbing, fighting, and quarrelling amoung the stars and the show's producers/writers are aired out for everyone to read. There's also some really nice cast/actor pictures for your enjoyment. I took deep interest in the Chris Noth pictures (he's such a doll!).

I totally recommend this book if, like me, you're a fan and you want to know EVERYTHING about the show. This book is a must-have for the ultimate "Law & Order" fan!

Gennie Bailey-Rogers

Most companions to hit television shows tend to be little more than dry reprintings of studio press releases. Luckily, this book, dealing with the second greatest crime show on TV (right after Homicide reruns), is a wonderful exception. Along with the expected episode guides, Law & Order: The Unofficial Companion is an interesting behind-the-scenes look at how a great television show was produced and somehow managed to thrive even as things occasionally got a little weird once the cameras were turned off. For a show that has managed to maintain the same basic formula for a decade, Law & Order has had a tumultous history marked by an almost constantly revolving cast and production crew. Rather than whitewashing, this book goes into the details about what led to such controversial departures of beloved performers like Chris Noth, Richard Brooks, Jill Hennessy, and especially Michael Moriarty. Moriarty's infamous personal demons are explored with an evenhanded honesty and, despite the opinions of some of his former castmates (Noth comes to mind), he emerges as the show's secret hero -- the man who sacrificed a good career for his own beliefs. (Of course, I happened to agree with a lot of his beliefs so I can't claim to be completely unbiased in my opinion.) Also of interest were the criticisms offered by current cast members like S. Epatha Merkerson who is very outspoken about her own feelings about the way the show has portrayed her and other African-Americans. Jill Hennessy comes across as the little sister we all wished we had, Chris Noth as the rebellious smart alek that we all secretly wished we could be, and George Dzundnza as the co-worker we all dread. Its indeed rare that a "tv companion" leaves us feeling as if we've actually met and gotten to know the men and women who made our favorite shows possible and Law & Order does that. As a fan, I was disappointed to learn of the lingering bitterness that several actors seem to hold towards the show but it still made for a wonderfully honest read. On the whole, the people behind Law & Order come across as a rather outspoken, independent group and its easy to see how those combative personalities have helped keep the show consistenly enthralling even while occasionally straight-jacketed by an unchangeable style. If you want to see what makes a great show great, this is the book to read.

Also, I have to commend the episode guide. Along with the expected cast lists and plot summaries, the authors take a refreshingly, no-holds barred approach with their criticisms -- even while praising the show, they're willing to point out where they feel mistakes were made and, in true fan fashion, their negative comments are far more honest and pointed than what you'd get from someone who hated the show to begin with. I didn't agree with all of their opinions but they were still wonderful to read and consider. True, the current edition of the book does not contain details for the past few seasons but, with Law & Order in continual reruns on apparently every cable station in America, that's not as much of a problem here as with other shows.

I have been pretty frustrated with the way the New Republic and even the Jedi have fumbled around and been stupid while the YZ take over the galaxy. Starting with Star by Star, the good guys start getting a clue. With this story, I finally have hope that eventually the good guys will deserve to win.

I enjoyed Aaron Allston's X-Wing series stories, and this one certainly doesn't disappoint. Wedge is back and some of the Wraith squadron. With them comes a new level of intelligent battle plans, exciting action, and even humor. The bad guys from the New Republic are now fleeing for cover, and we have only the dedicated heroes planning for the eventual overthrow of the invaders.

Lots of characters who went on the wrong track before are pulling it together again. Han and Leia, Jaina, and even rogue Jedi Kyp Duron are getting their priorities straight. However, it's the brilliant, fearless leadership of Wedge Antilles that brings it all together. Everyone is working together, sharing creative solutions to seemingly impossible problems, and exhibiting courage in the face of impossible odds.

The bad guys are really bad. The good guys are really good. The good guys have to be smart and brave to succeed. Everyone has to work together, each doing what they do best. The action is great. There's humor, love, and soul searching. Star Wars at its best.

Allston again writes an excellent addition to the NJO series. Rebel Stand is more concentrated then Rebel Dream, with the subplots focussing more clearly on the main characters. While he adds in a few returning faces (Wes Janson makes his NJO debut), Allston never loses focus of his story. Every NJO author writes a specific character better than others, Stackpole writes Corran Horn the best, Keyes wrote Anakin the best, etc, Allston wrote Han and Leia the best in this book. No other author in the NJO series so far has captured the essense of who Han and Leia are, not merely legend they represent. I am trying not to give any of the plot away, but the scene where Han and Leia escape from the Peace Brigade is pure Star Wars. Luke and Mara are not forgotten on Curuscant, and though again nothing is mentioned of the captured Jacen Solo, an old enemy is resurrected, and general chaos reigns. Its really great stuff. Allston also focuses on the tactical side of the war with the Vong, his depiction of Wedge Antilles is masterful, as is the battle plan presented. Jaina Solo comes into her own, no longer under the influence of the Dark Side, and healing from the losses of her brothers. Overall after the darkness of Star by Star and Dark Journey, Allston's two books have been a welcome change, and are simply excellent. Perhaps he will write again for the Star Wars universe, and if he does, I will be among the first to buy the book. Rebel Stand is highly recommend, not just as a great addition to the NJO series but as a Star Wars book in general.

This duology was excellent. I thought that after Star by Star this series would get back on track. Then came Dark Journey, possibly the worst NJO book I've ever read. But this duology saved the series.

If you ever wondered why your older sister screamed at you for misplacing her nail polish or why your bratty little brother couldn't sit still at the dinner table, the two of you would do well to read this book. Author and psychologist Kevin Leman, a last born child, investigates the psychology of birth order, which deems that our sex and where we fall among our siblings can have profound affects on our attitudes and behavior. He provides plenty of examples from his own family and ensures that you aren't the only one who thinks your siblings need straightening out.

The whys of each "birth order," i.e. first born, middle child, last born, only child, are examined. First borns and only children, for example, can be pressured from a young age to act as little adults because they don't have the benefit of interaction with siblings. Hence, they often fill leadership positions. Middle children prove to be great mediators because they have learned to juggle the extremes of older and younger siblings, while last borns capitalize on the mistakes of their older brothers and sisters.

This book is an amusing yet insightful read. In addition to explaining "why you are the way you are," Leman suggests how we can adopt the positive qualities of other birth orders to make our lives more enjoyable and fulfilling. As he carefully points out, birth order psychology is not a sure bet on everyone you encounter in life, but what you pick up from his book will leave you with some pretty good guesses.

If you ever wondered why your older sister screamed at you for misplacing her nail polish or why your bratty little brother couldn't sit still at the dinner table, the two of you would do well to read this book. Author and psychologist Kevin Leman, a last born child, investigates the psychology of birth order, which deems that our sex and where we fall among our siblings can have profound affects on our attitudes and behavior. He provides plenty of examples from his own family and ensures that you aren't the only one who thinks your siblings need straightening out.

The whys of each "birth order," i.e. first born, middle child, last born, only child, are examined. First borns and only children, for example, can be pressured from a young age to act as little adults because they don't have the benefit of interaction with siblings. Hence, they often fill leadership positions. Middle children prove to be great mediators because they have learned to juggle the extremes of older and younger siblings, while last borns capitalize on the mistakes of their older brothers and sisters.

This book is an amusing yet insightful read. In addition to explaining "why you are the way you are," Leman suggests how we can adopt the positive qualities of other birth orders to make our lives more enjoyable and fulfilling. As he carefully points out, birth order psychology is not a sure bet on everyone you encounter in life, but what you pick up from his book will leave you with some pretty good guesses.

We used this book as one of the textbooks for my family counseling class in college. It really helps you understand why you are the way you are and why your siblings are CRAZY! ;)
i'm a BABY and proud of it, WOOHOO! i have a lot of dr. leman books, but this one is my favorite because he goes indepth on a topic he knows A LOT about and discusses some good ol' adler with meaning for today. BUY IT NOW, then buy the real you, then ANY of his 'how to' about kids books, then buy sex begins in the kitchen! (or better yet, buy me that one, i still don't have it)

This book received excellent reviews; I had to satisfy my curiosity and read it. I slowly read, hoping to discover some great truths I may have missed these past 6 decades.The book is unique in that the author explains how monks and nuns live, work, and worship together in communities and also how she had the freedom to come and go as she pleased, worshipping in her protestant church as well.

This is a nice book for tolerant people of any faith. Everyone can benefit from quiet reflection, from reading scripture, from singing hymns, and from praying. We all have the freedom to worship God in different ways. Kathleen Norris was curious about the catholic faith, although she remains a protestant. Her experience within the monastery is beneficial to her soul and she describes how, as a poet and writer, the rituals, liturgy, and hospitality within the monastic setting further her own understanding of spirituality.

The Cloister Walk
by Kathleen Norris

Calling to mind the writings of Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen, Kathleen Norris writes a deeply personal journal of spiritual self-rediscovery. Although a lifelong protestant, Ms. Norris explores the cultures and traditions of a Benedictine Monastery as she searches for deeper meaning and communion with God in her life. This is a book of great reflection, a story of a soul's journey in the midst of contemporary doubt and turmoil.

The book takes place within the context of monastic life throughout the Church's liturgical year. It explores the rituals, ceremonies, liturgies of this life as well as the everyday existence of monastic life. Ms. Norris is strangely drawn to the cloistered community, one which is at once both apart, yet deeply (if somewhat obliquely) connected to life in general. The themes of liturgical renewal, ritual, contemplation, meditation and prayer speak directly to the hearts of all of us. In that life, the author addresses the sacredness of all life and its ability for renewal and spiritual growth.

Kathleen Norris takes her readers on a splendid journey into the monastic life and hence into the self. Her deeply reflective prose quotes some of the desert fathers and mothers on prayer, monastic living, celibacy, psychology, etc. I especially appreciated her critique of virginity and virgin martyrs of the Church. Norris' experience of monastic living combined with the wisdom of that tradition makes her book a fine read.

Chomsky's "Profit over People" is a careful and thought provoking (not to mention exhaustive) examination of the ultimate goals of the world of private business: profit, power, and the maintance of the status quo and the class system at any cost. If that cost is to be paid in human lives and soles, (as in East Timor and elsewhere); so be it. Of particular interest in this work by Chomsky are the sections in which he examines the recent changes from 'real' business, viz., business linked to production etc., to modern 'speculative' business, i.e, gamblers buying and selling foreign currencies etc., and the effect this has had (and will continue to have) on a global economy obsessed with nothing but profit, profit, and more profit.

Do yourself a favour and read this book. Forget Clancy, Archer, etc. That's released on to the market simply to distract the peasants of society (i.e. non-millionaires). Read instead Chomsky, Herman, Orwell, Wells, Said, Huxley, et al. Gain an insight into how much harm we, as citizens of democratic societies, are inflicting on the Third World. In addition, ponder on why you have not seen this (or any other) book by Chomsky reviewed in the main stream press. If Professor Chomsky's observations and views are as easy to dismiss as his critics would have us believe, why don't they?

Despite its leaden prose, "Profit Over People" succeeds in giving a stark picture of how our government's economic policy (especially with regard to "free trade" agreements) is crafted to suit the interests of the profiteers, no matter how much it may hurt the general population. This book is, in the typical Chomsky style, exceedingly well documented.

There has been tons of balderdash written about Chomsky by persons who rarely let Chomsky or his supporters respond to it. If you're serious about finding out its truthfullness, read Chomsky at first hand. I would suggest easier to read books like "Dettering Democracy" or even "World Orders Old And New."

...Read the book and you might be pleasantly surprise by what you get... unless you're an investment banker!

The appeal of "The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order" is jarringly similar that of the vapid glossy fashion magazines Bust's writers love to hate (and occasionally work for): It is easy reading, taut with unresolved ethical and philosophical paradoxes, and intercut with rather feeble attempts at insight and actual journalism.

This is not to say it isn't entertaining. It is, most of the time. The prose is not bogged down with complicated ideas or long words. It is light and easy reading, the kind one does before bed, allowing simplicity to tickle the brain into slumber.

Bust's core philosophy is very simple: Anything I like and find pleasurable is feminist and right and empowering. Because of this philosophy, it is unnecessary for any of the essays to examine why something may be wrong or negative or unfeminist or contradictory. It is an intoxicating atmosphere of stubborn self-righteousness and self-worship, but ultimately, it is completely devoid of any real feminist discussion or philosophy. The essays drop names like Susan Faludi and Naomi Wolf and Camille Paglia, but fall far short of posessing any of the virulence, thoughtfulness, intellect and linguistic prowess of the work of those authors.

Ultimately, "The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order" is probably a good introduction to feminism for the novice--especially young teenage girls, as the juvenille writing tends to read as if it could have been ripped out the diary any given 14 year old girl. But for anyone who is well-aquainted with the subject matter, it is going to feel self-indulgent, shallow, and amateur, kind of a "Chicken Soup for the Feminist Soul."

This book is so exceptionally superb! This should be given to all young girls. I have been waiting for this book for months and I now keep it by my bed and use it as my bible. I cannot wait to one day let my own teenage daughter read it. Hopefully by then the girl species will have evolved as well as the great BUST-y ladies who tell their stories in this fabulous book.

this book is really great...I picked it up yesterday and I can't put it down..I brought it to school and read it during class! there's great stories, info, and lotz of funny stuff!! I've been looking for good feminist books and magazines, and this is both of those combined into one! this book was a great find, and I'm already subscribing to "Bust" magazine!

This is a story of a young girl fighting for what she believes in. She fights to defend her country and ends up giving her life for it. She is murder because she was accused of witchcraft, and is later found to be not guilty. I have done other studies on Joan of Arc, but this one was way more detailed about her struggles and how she finally recieves the glory she deserves. I like how in this book they give a discrite discription of what was going on before Joan of Arc was born. I also love how they told about her visions and how she thought it was her destiny to help her country. I also liked how they added a little bit about her personal love life; that really kept me on edge. This book even though I liked it is not for everyone. It was sometimes hard to understand and to keep up with. They're were many French frases and countries mentioned in this book that if my father was not there to help me I probably wouldn't have understood them. Overall I liked this book.

I have seen a number of documentary efforts concerning Joan of Arc over the years, but wanted to get a little closer to the recorded history. I decided to look for a book that could give a compelling account of events while providing plenty of snippets of historical source material. This book fit the bill almost perfectly. The core of this book is a chronological examination of the historical record, which is not identical to a chronological ordering of events. Don't be put off by this approach, however. Its appropriateness and lucidity are well represented here. This "core" section is only 160 pages. The rest of the book consists of translator's preface, semi-biographical sketches, appendices, and the like. Consequently, the only intimidating factor here is the occasional spate of French names and place-names, which I had unusual difficulty keeping straight in my head. The authors are scrupulous about providing context (which is to say, more French historical detail than an English-speaking reader might readily absorb). Your head may swim on occasion. But the pay-off is inevitably worth it. At it's best, this work is more thrilling (and where it deals with Joan's persecution, more chilling) than nearly any work of fiction. However, I recommend you start by skimming the "character" sketches and maps thoughtfully provided in this edition. In short this book is challenging but definitely worthwhile if you want a better understanding of how Joan's mission was viewed by herself and her contemporaries, as well as a large helping of historical backdrop and court intrigue. However, if you prefer a more "conventional" presentation of characters and events (such as a novel), you'll want to keep looking.

Joan of Arc was a 19 year old woman who accomplished what many men older and wiser couldn't. France was on the brink of collapse when she emerged into history. Half of the country was occupied by the savage English troops under the Kings Edward V and Edward VI. They took advantage of the civil war that ravaged France. The Burgundians were allied to England and against the dauphin. The city of Orleans was the last bastion to hold the English from taking the other half of France and was under siege for 8 months when Joan arrived on at Orleans. Joan's confidence in God and her voices of Saints helped achieve the impossible. She lifted the siege of Orleans, defeated other Enlish forces and paved the way for Charles of Ponthieu, to become King Charles VII. She was later caught and sold by the Burgundians to the English who wanted her burned. Her trial was a travesty of injustice. The clergy tried to trick and humiliate this uneducated woman, but could come up with nothing better than trying her as a heretic who wore men's clothes. Many of the people who wished her dead cried as she was burned. They realized, only too late, that they had killed a holy woman. She was created a Saint in 1920, 500 years after she was burned to death.

I liked the book but felt it lacked in the way it dealt with the vong, with them going from this large group to all of them being placed on the living planet. Also I was expecting a better explanaiton of how the vong where stripped of the force, since vigri did it to Jacen shouldn't there have been some analogy there. I agree with the on commmenter about Luke showing his Warrior side again, was nice to see.

The Unifying Force by James Luceno was a mastery of a book. That is not to say it up there with the best books ever, but to a fan of the universe created by George Lucas it is one of the best ever. It deserves a ranking up there with Zahn's original trilogy.

I have read all of the books in New Jedi Order as they came out along with all of the Star Wars books. The Unifying Force deserves a spot among the best in the New Jedi Order. My personal opinion is the top two are Star by Star and Unifying Force. I almost didn't jump on this one right away because the past few NJO novels have been OK and not stellar. I was glad I did.

The book was fantastic. It had something for everyone. The war and massive space battles, and through statistics thrown in you get a sense of how massive this war is. The use of all the leaders throughout ALL of the previous Star Wars books, from Wedge Antilles to Ackbar, through Kre'fey to Sovv, including Bel Iblis and so many more. Your favorite was in this book. Unifying Force brought back all the favorite characters from other books. Some of my favorites, Shada, Talon, Crev Bombassa, Lando, and Tendra were all involved. The politics were there in limited form, same with love stories. Even though the Jedi and their affiliates really did get the focus in this story, Luceno made it not seem too focused on them and some other books have done.

The best part of The Unifying Force, I believe, is the grandeur and absolute enormous size of it. It is huge in every sense. The Galactic Alliance is making a huge stand. While all the other books did a very good of bringing back a few old friendly faces, this book brings back EVERYONE. There is not a single important person not mentioned or that doesn't make an appearance. It is some much fun to see all your "old friends" in action playing important roles.

I have only a few minor complaints with this book. I didn't want to put them in, but I feel I have to include them to be fair. The battles seemed rushed sometimes. Han, Leia, and Luke specifically seem to get into impossible situations with captures and fights all over the place, and they always conveniently get out. It seems almost as if the author was told that he was in no way or form to kill anyone important, which makes sense but kind off kills the suspense. Also, at times there seemed to be too many characters running around inside the Coruscant system and you sometimes lose track of them. However, as I said before, I have very few complaints with this novel.

This book meant a lot to me personally. It was meant to have a feeling of closing. There is a very good chance this will be the last book to be set this side of the Galactic Civil War. The Unifying Force did this very well. I finished the book in a very happy mood, a very content one. The loose ends from all over the place were tied up. The New Jedi Order comes to a close with a great novel in The Unifying Force.

The war is coming to an end, but who will win? Luke and Mara Jade Skywalker are stuck on the living planet Zonama Sekot, a planet that could be the salvation for both the Galactic Alliance and the Yuuzhan Vong. But Supreme Overlord Shirma would rather see every planet in the galaxy burn to ashes then to surrender, that's why he has hatch a five thousand plus ship fleet to Mon Calamari, temporary capital of the Galactic Alliance, to crush the native inhabits of the galaxy in massive stroke. But the Alliance commanders and the Jedi have a few tricks up their sleeves, but so do the Yuuzhan Vong.

From the first to the last page, The Unifying Force will keep you reading for an uncountable amount of time. James Luceno, who wrote Agents of Chaos, (NJO books 4 and 5) comes back to write the conclusion of the New Jedi Order, a series of books that have broken the rules of fantasy and science fiction. It has kept it's readers glued to the page for five years, even though this series has 19 books (not including two ebooks), it doesn't seem to be enough to tell the tale of one of literature's most brutal wars. One closes the book of the New Jedi Order feeling as if he or she had just survived a massive cataclysmic disaster, but knows that they will be able to tough out any future conflict.

This is not the end of the Expanded Universe, after the war with the Yuuzhan Vong, the Jedi find that they must redefined what the Forces is, lines between the Light and Dark have become permanently blurred. The Mandilorians, lead by none other then Boba Fett(he's only in the book for about five pages, then fly's off, so stop drooling), scored major brownie point with the Alliance by liberating several systems single handedly. But what do these small, but incredible strong warriors have in store for the rest of galaxy?

I found it impossible to tolerate the hundreds and hundreds of pages of oggeling the great men of science and the mundane minutia of thier careers, personalities and personal lives. There's not a single equation or chart in the whole book.
Look elsewhere if you want to get up to speed on the "new science".

a book about the mathematicians that developed complexity theory. My statement is more a warning than a complaint. Setting their results in a human and cultural context - as Waldrop does - makes an interesting read and a useful introduction to the field. And the field is promising; it looks at mathematical systems from the inside out, rather than the traditional outside in. Just don't buy the book expecting a guide to recreating even the simplest of systems mentioned.

Those who want to play with the mathematics itself will find other books more helpful. See, for example, Flake's book, "The Computational Beauty of Nature", which contains a description of Waldrop's frequently mentioned "boids" in enough detail that a reader can create similar systems. Flake also describes the details of many of the other systems alluded to in Waldrop's book, mercifully at the "how to do it"level, rather than the rigorous "theorem and proof" level. The two books fit well together.

Waldrop's writing style is clean, clear, literate, and unobtrusive. Read the book for what he says, rather than for how he says it. If you enjoy reading a technical book both for the what the author says - and for how he says it - try almost anything by John McPhee, particularly his loose series on the geology of North America.

Complexity is one of those rare science books that manages to teach the reader a great deal without boring them to tears. Using the Santa Fe Institute and many of it's founding players as the backdrop for the story, Waldrop tells stories about people, while exploring their science. The result is a book that is fun to read, and that makes you think at a deep, deep level.

The gist of complexity is the notion that nature really does explore, all by itself, the continously evolving boundary between order and chaos. If you've ever explored the boundaries of fractal patterns, such as the Mandelbrot Set, you've seen a visual example of complexity at work. When you're done, you realize that you have a better intuitive understanding of how the universe operates, how evolution works, and how societies organize themselves...all without having to solve a single mathematical equation! I loved it!

This is one of those books that reshaped my world view, and it is one that I highly recommend to any reader, regardless of their scientific background.