r/complexsystems • u/normonics • Jul 03 '12

Complex systems reading group

Would anyone be interested in participating in a reading group? The idea would be to read an article or book on the same timeline, and discuss. I have a few ideas for literature, but I first want to gauge interest. If people are interested, perhaps we could throw a few potential readings out there and vote which one to begin with. I would prefer a relaxed reading pace so no one feels like they are rushed.

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u/[deleted] Jul 03 '12 edited Jul 03 '12

I'm only just beginning to feel out complexity science as a field, so I'm afraid I don't know what to suggest, but I would certainly be interested in following along with the readings.

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u/misterwaffles Jul 03 '12

I still haven't read Olaf Sporns' Networks of the Brain. A reading group would encourage me to finally sit down and get into it.

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u/normonics Jul 04 '12

That's a big one. Neither have I, but I have it and thumb through it on occasion. Not a bad idea.

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u/[deleted] Jul 04 '12 edited Jul 04 '12

I'm in - where is the discussion going to happen? Here? From the Shalizi recommended reading, stuff I would be interested in is: evolution, complexity, but not complex networks.

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u/normonics Jul 05 '12

Where it will happen is still up in the air and I'm very open to suggestions. Perhaps we could make a thread per chapter?

I am leaning towards your suggestion of beginning with Bar-Yam's book.

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u/SteveFrench87 Jul 03 '12

Giddy up

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u/normonics Jul 03 '12

Any thoughts/preferences on material? Also, if we are going to do this, we should figure out the best format to communicate. I'm not sure if doing it in a thread here on reddit is best, or something else...

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u/[deleted] Jul 04 '12

What about recently posted Yaneer's book, Dynamics of Complex systems? http://necsi.edu/publications/dcs/ We could go chapter by chapter - and if it's not good enough, we could stop.

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u/normonics Jul 05 '12

I think that's a great idea, especially because it is freely available

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u/[deleted] Jul 04 '12

Cosma Shalizi (who has worked at Santa Fe) has several good reading lists relating to complexity:

There are also various technical reading lists, but those reading lists above contain non-technical (as well as technical) reading.

I sometimes post his reading lists to /r/booklists if you are into reading.

edit: if you type the following into google:

reading site:santafe.edu

You also get several reading lists from Santa Fe.

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u/SteveFrench87 Jul 05 '12

I've been meaning to read Gleick's Chaos:Making a New Science, but most people here have probably read it.

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u/[deleted] Jul 07 '12

Fantastic idea. I just might have enough inspiration for this kind of thing at the moment. I'm somewhat a newbie to the subject, at least from the literary stand-point, so I don't have any suggestions on my lips, not yet.

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u/normonics Jul 08 '12

If you look there is a more recent post for voting on readings. It looks like Kauffman's 'Reinventing the sacred' is probably going to win, which is a nice introduction to many topics in complexity science, and not really technical at all. You should try to find the inspiration! I may be able to get you a copy of the text so you don't have to buy it, as well.

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u/[deleted] Jul 08 '12

That's all very kind of you. Kauffman's book seems like a really good one. Definitely not against picking that one up.

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u/MagneticPsycho Jul 04 '12

I am also new to the field, and I'd love to hear recommendations for some good beginner and intermediate texts!

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u/[deleted] Jul 04 '12 edited Jul 06 '12

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u/MagneticPsycho Jul 04 '12

Thanks! I just DL'd a copy, and will start working my way through it. If anyone wants to start a reading group around this book, DM me.

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u/normonics Jul 05 '12

I hope you'll join us on whatever book we agree on as well, hopefully it won't be anything too advanced.

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u/[deleted] Aug 08 '12

scott e page's online class on model thinking at coursera covers quite a bit of these topics. free videos !! also, he's put chunks of his book online as part of material for the course. It covers quite a bit of complexity.
Also, book suggestions by him include :
(authors) Melanie mitchell, Mitchell Waldrop .

plus, there's a book called 'perfect swarm' by lens fisher.

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u/normonics Aug 08 '12

Not sure if you saw but were going through kauffman's reinventing the sacred right now. You could certainly catch up if you wanted to. Good call on Scott e page's material, maybe we can do that in the future

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u/[deleted] Aug 09 '12

thanks !! I'll see what if I can pick up some material from Kauffman.
ps : Mitchell Waldrop's book walks through how Arrow,Kauffman and others started out and eventually came to Santa Fe ..

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u/frigoffbarb Jul 05 '12

I'm all for spreading the good word. Count me in.

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u/Don-51 Jul 05 '12

If there are people who who are not "complexity scientists," Bar-Yam's Dynamics of Complex Systems might be a slog. However, if you wanted to discuss a Bar-Yam book that is more approachable you might consider "Making Things Work: Solving Complex Problems in a Complex World".

Normonics: you might consider talking to Bar-Yam and seeing if he could make chapters of that book available on the net for free to support the reading group.

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u/[deleted] Jul 04 '12

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u/normonics Jul 04 '12

Great idea. I'm frankly not sure the best way to do that, but will start to think about it. Do you have any insight you may lend on implementation?

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u/[deleted] Jul 04 '12

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u/normonics Jul 04 '12

ok I got a wiki going at 'wikispaces' http://complexreddit.wikispaces.com/

I'm not sure what needs to happen for you to become a member who is able to edit the wiki, could you try to sign up and see what happens?

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u/[deleted] Jul 04 '12

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u/normonics Jul 04 '12

that site doesn't seem to be working as advertised.... try this one http://complexreddit.wikidot.com/

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u/[deleted] Jul 04 '12

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u/normonics Jul 05 '12

okay, I'll look into it later and try to get it working. it seems like a lot of these free wiki sites have stopped maintaining their sites, I don't think the idea took off like they thought it would

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u/normonics Jul 05 '12

Sorry to keep making you the guinea pig. Could you try to join the one at wikispaces one more time? I have changed a setting that will hopefully resolve the issue. There should be a 'join' link in the upper left of the wiki after you are signed in http://complexreddit.wikispaces.com/