Chaos: Making a New Science, by James Gleick

James Gleick, formerly a science writer for the New York Times, wrote this bestselling book, Chaos: Making a New Science, in order to help people better understand the basic principles of Chaos Theory and introduce its history as well as the individuals who have highly influenced this complex field of study. This is one of the first accepted books about Chaos Theory and was published in 1988. It is a classic that is still admired among the general public, mathematicians and scientists today. According to many, Gleick provides explanations in the book by using simple mathematics that can be understood by all and he succeeds at communicating the essence of this complicated theory into a format in which ordinary people can understand. Throughout the book there are many pictures and illustrations which help the reader comprehend the many intricate phenomena which contribute to the Chaos Theory including: the Mandelbrot Set, Julia Sets, Lorenz Attractors, fractal coastlines and phase space. Gleick explains that there is chaos in every aspect of nature as well as universe and that classical science does not account for the Chaos Theory. This subject matter is applied in many fields such as: economic, mathematics, physics, politics, finance, engineering and psychology, many examples of which are demonstrated throughout the book. This book ties in the thoughts of many historical scientists, mathematicians and physicists, and produces a very holistic and complete view of the Chaos Theory present in our world. Furthermore, Gleick writes about the need for our educational system to become more scientifically interdisciplinary in order for students of the future to be able to tackle very challenging and complex ideas, in hope that one day the use of such theories, including that of Chaos, can help solve major issues in the world such as that of epidemic disease.

This book is significant for global professionals and leaders of the 21st century because these individuals will be at a major advantage if they have a better understanding of the Chaos Theory and how it can affect their lives and those around them. People must be aware of the how their minute, seemingly insignificant, actions can have a large impact on others that they did not intend. As mentioned above, Chaos Theory can be applied to many scientific fields as well as those of finance and economics. As an example of how Chaos Theory can be applied to the financial sector, one can see how there is often sudden discontinuous changes in a stock's price. This is called the Noah effect by Mandelbrot and it “challenges normal distribution theory in statistics” (The (Mis)behavior of Markets: A Fractal View of Risk, Ruin, and Reward by Mandelbrot and Hudson). This is simply one of many demonstrations as to how classical science does not incorporate the natural phenomenon of chaos. Global leaders will have a significant impact on the world and it is essential that these individuals not only have knowledge of business but also of the world in which they operate. This book will help give a holistic and all encompassing view of how the world works in terms of chaos. Actions have reactions, which is important for all individuals in our society to know.

Chaos Theory is one of the most interesting ideas that should be understood and learned by all. The world is a very complex place that no one will ever fully understand in it, however, it is essential that every human being grasp the concept of how each living and nonliving thing in this universe interact together. Being aware that a small occurrence in one part of the world can have a large impact on something completely unrelated anywhere else, is very important and could potentially help many individuals become more aware of their daily actions and contributions to the world.