Emergence The Connected Lives of Ants, Brains, Cities, and Software

<b>In the tradition of <i>Being Digital</i> and <i>The Tipping Point,</i> Steven Johnson, acclaimed as a "cultural critic with a poet's heart" <i>(The Village Voice),</i> takes readers on an eye-opening journey through emergence theory and its applications.</b><br><br><b>A <i>NEW YORK TIMES</i> NOTABLE BOOK<br>A <i>VOICE LITERARY SUPPLEMENT</i> TOP 25 FAVORITE BOOKS OF THE YEAR<br>AN <i>ESQUIRE</i> MAGAZINE BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR</b> <br>Explaining why the whole is sometimes smarter than the sum of its parts, Johnson presents surprising examples of feedback, self-organization, and adaptive learning. How does a lively neighborhood evolve out of a disconnected group of shopkeepers, bartenders, and real estate developers? How does a media event take on a life of its own? How will new software programs create an intelligent World Wide Web? <br><br>In the coming years, the power of self-organization -- coupled with the connective technology of the Internet -- will usher in a revolution every bit as significant as the introduction of electricity. Provocative and engaging, <i>Emergence</i> puts you on the front lines of this exciting upheaval in science and thought.