Mainstream media meets complex adaptive systems in this book. The publishing industry continues to fuel the growth of popular science with titles like Emergence. I'm all for the growth of science titles, but the price comes at the increase in the number of watered-down, easy-to-digest material you'll find in bookstores. With the explosion in books written on the topic of complex adaptive systems, I found it difficult to choose a single book in the category. With little restraint, I dove in.

Emergence is a light, easy read devoted to describing systems that demonstrate adaptive behavior. The author sends significant time on contemporary systems such as the news media, the worldwide web, and large urban areas. On more than one occasion, the author appears to be reaching to make a conclusion. It's difficult to say whether he hadn't done the research or wanted the reader to draw his/her own conclusion.

Nonetheless, Steven Johnson paints an abstract picture of systems that demonstrate a larger, collective set of smarts. Like most abstract art, some people will be inspired and others won't. I found the writing and subject matter interesting enough to keep my curiosity fueled to pick up another book on complex systems. If you approach Emergence with a mind-set of getting more art than science, you're less likely to be let down.

More stuff emerges from the cloud of gas
Sometimes the cloud turns into an insect
Sometimes the insects turn into brains
Sometimes the brains go to French raves

Once in a while i come across books that challenge you to think differently and connect the dots between seemingly unrelated subjects. This book is one among them. I like the way how ants, slime mold, cities and distributed software are related. I like the idea of how simple systems by following simple rules can become complex organized systems. It gives a good idea about how feedback loops will change or already changing the software industry and AI.
One minor setback on the book is some stories are really long - the chapter about cities and sidewalk.

Johnson delivers again with an easily understandable and entertaining book on emergence theory. The principles of the aggregation of micro-behavior driving macro-behavior for learning, cities, feedback loops, and technology has implications for everyday life, future urban design, learning, and technological solutions.

Interesting yet dated, discussion of social media as an emergent system would have been interesting.

Fascinating concept. Good start, quite a boring end. He uses the same examples again and again - Alright man, I got it Sims is an amazing game, move on. That being said, still worth the read.

I liked the book alot... but somehow I guess I was hoping for more than quick overviews of related topics and was looking for more in-depth details. Lots of good quotes though, and he mentioned many other books which have also now been added to my "to-read" shelf.

Fun, educational, and I really like Steven Johnsons style of writing. Let's see where the discovery of emergent behaviour leads us.

The first portion of the book is really interesting and well worth reading. Those who have more of a memory for the history of the internet and computing may get more from the latter portions.

I shouldn't penalize a book for being outdated, but because the majority of the internet and gaming talk, which takes up a good portion of the book, is twenty years old and very specific, it's very hard to connect it to our current reality. I have zero idea if it was accurate in 2001. I'm sure it's not accurate now.

Who could’ve guessed mold would have been so interesting?

Written in 2001 so some of the topics covered, especially the IT stuff, has moved on. Also very wafelley.

Rambling, long on anecdote, short on math, narrow focus on human condition. Not for me.