A Crude Look at the Whole PDF Download

Are you looking for read ebook online? Search for your book and save it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Download A Crude Look at the Whole PDF full book. Access full book title A Crude Look at the Whole by John H. Miller. Download full books in PDF and EPUB format.

A Crude Look at the Whole

A Crude Look at the Whole PDF Author: John H. Miller
Publisher: Basic Books
ISBN: 0465073867
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 272

Book Description
A top expert explains why a social and economic understanding of complex systems will help society to anticipate and confront our biggest challenges Imagine trying to understand a stained glass window by breaking it into pieces and examining it one shard at a time. While you could probably learn a lot about each piece, you would have no idea about what the entire picture looks like. This is reductionism -- the idea that to understand the world we only need to study its pieces -- and it is how most social scientists approach their work. In A Crude Look at the Whole, social scientist and economist John H. Miller shows why we need to start looking at whole pictures. For one thing, whether we are talking about stock markets, computer networks, or biological organisms, individual parts only make sense when we remember that they are part of larger wholes. And perhaps more importantly, those wholes can take on behaviors that are strikingly different from that of their pieces. Miller, a leading expert in the computational study of complex adaptive systems, reveals astounding global patterns linking the organization of otherwise radically different structures: It might seem crude, but a beehive's temperature control system can help predict market fluctuations and a mammal's heartbeat can help us understand the "heartbeat" of a city and adapt urban planning accordingly. From enduring racial segregation to sudden stock market disasters, once we start drawing links between complex systems, we can start solving what otherwise might be totally intractable problems. Thanks to this revolutionary perspective, we can finally transcend the limits of reductionism and discover crucial new ideas. Scientifically founded and beautifully written, A Crude Look at the Whole is a powerful exploration of the challenges that we face as a society. As it reveals, taking the crude look might be the only way to truly see.

A Crude Look at the Whole

A Crude Look at the Whole PDF Author: John H. Miller
Publisher: Basic Books
ISBN: 0465073867
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 272

Book Description
A top expert explains why a social and economic understanding of complex systems will help society to anticipate and confront our biggest challenges Imagine trying to understand a stained glass window by breaking it into pieces and examining it one shard at a time. While you could probably learn a lot about each piece, you would have no idea about what the entire picture looks like. This is reductionism -- the idea that to understand the world we only need to study its pieces -- and it is how most social scientists approach their work. In A Crude Look at the Whole, social scientist and economist John H. Miller shows why we need to start looking at whole pictures. For one thing, whether we are talking about stock markets, computer networks, or biological organisms, individual parts only make sense when we remember that they are part of larger wholes. And perhaps more importantly, those wholes can take on behaviors that are strikingly different from that of their pieces. Miller, a leading expert in the computational study of complex adaptive systems, reveals astounding global patterns linking the organization of otherwise radically different structures: It might seem crude, but a beehive's temperature control system can help predict market fluctuations and a mammal's heartbeat can help us understand the "heartbeat" of a city and adapt urban planning accordingly. From enduring racial segregation to sudden stock market disasters, once we start drawing links between complex systems, we can start solving what otherwise might be totally intractable problems. Thanks to this revolutionary perspective, we can finally transcend the limits of reductionism and discover crucial new ideas. Scientifically founded and beautifully written, A Crude Look at the Whole is a powerful exploration of the challenges that we face as a society. As it reveals, taking the crude look might be the only way to truly see.

Crude Awakening

Crude Awakening PDF Author: Amanda Coyne
Publisher: Bold Type Books
ISBN: 1568584474
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 306

Book Description
Presents a history of the Alaskan oil industry, revealing political corruption, the FBI's investigation, and how these events will influence American politics.

Crude Intentions

Crude Intentions PDF Author: Alexandra Gillies
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0190940727
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 302

Book Description
Billions of dollars stolen from citizens are circling the globe, enriching powerful individuals, altering political outcomes, and disadvantaging everyday people. News headlines provide glimpses of how this corruption works and why it matters: President Trump's businesses struck deals with oligarchs and sold property to secretive shell companies; the Panama Papers leak triggered investigations in 79 countries; and, corruption scandals toppled heads of state in Brazil, South Africa, and South Korea. But how do these pieces fit together? And if the corruption is so vast and so tied up with powerful interests, how do we begin to fight back? To find answers, Crude Intentions examines the corruption crisis that erupted during the recent oil boom. From 2008 to 2014, oil prices shot through the roof. Motivated by more than nine trillion dollars in new oil money, corruption followed apace. Examining the oil boom is like placing a drop of dye in the circulatory system of global corruption, and watching as it reveals the system's channels and pathways. Company bosses signed off on risky schemes to snap up choice oil blocks. Politicians in Brazil and Nigeria stole billions to build up their election war chests. Kleptocrats in Angola, Azerbaijan, and Russia seized upon the oil wealth to cement their hold on power. And an army of bankers, accountants, and lawyers lined up to help these corrupt actors stash their loot in the global system of shell companies and tax havens that serves today's super-rich. The money then bought yachts, mansions, and even a few foreign politicians. Drawing on information exposed by intrepid journalists, prosecutors, and whistle blowers, Crude Intentions tells jaw-dropping stories of corruption and asks what we can learn from them. The cases reveal common tactics, but also vulnerabilities in this web of fraud. These are the starting points for building a smarter fight against corruption, in the oil sector and well beyond.

Principles of Systems Science

Principles of Systems Science PDF Author: George E. Mobus
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 1493919202
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 755

Book Description
This pioneering text provides a comprehensive introduction to systems structure, function, and modeling as applied in all fields of science and engineering. Systems understanding is increasingly recognized as a key to a more holistic education and greater problem solving skills, and is also reflected in the trend toward interdisciplinary approaches to research on complex phenomena. While the concepts and components of systems science will continue to be distributed throughout the various disciplines, undergraduate degree programs in systems science are also being developed, including at the authors’ own institutions. However, the subject is approached, systems science as a basis for understanding the components and drivers of phenomena at all scales should be viewed with the same importance as a traditional liberal arts education. Principles of Systems Science contains many graphs, illustrations, side bars, examples, and problems to enhance understanding. From basic principles of organization, complexity, abstract representations, and behavior (dynamics) to deeper aspects such as the relations between information, knowledge, computation, and system control, to higher order aspects such as auto-organization, emergence and evolution, the book provides an integrated perspective on the comprehensive nature of systems. It ends with practical aspects such as systems analysis, computer modeling, and systems engineering that demonstrate how the knowledge of systems can be used to solve problems in the real world. Each chapter is broken into parts beginning with qualitative descriptions that stand alone for students who have taken intermediate algebra. The second part presents quantitative descriptions that are based on pre-calculus and advanced algebra, providing a more formal treatment for students who have the necessary mathematical background. Numerous examples of systems from every realm of life, including the physical and biological sciences, humanities, social sciences, engineering, pre-med and pre-law, are based on the fundamental systems concepts of boundaries, components as subsystems, processes as flows of materials, energy, and messages, work accomplished, functions performed, hierarchical structures, and more. Understanding these basics enables further understanding both of how systems endure and how they may become increasingly complex and exhibit new properties or characteristics. Serves as a textbook for teaching systems fundamentals in any discipline or for use in an introductory course in systems science degree programs Addresses a wide range of audiences with different levels of mathematical sophistication Includes open-ended questions in special boxes intended to stimulate integrated thinking and class discussion Describes numerous examples of systems in science and society Captures the trend towards interdisciplinary research and problem solving

Crude World

Crude World PDF Author: Peter Maass
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN: 0307273199
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 290

Book Description
The catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has brought new attention to the huge costs of our oil dependence. In this stunning and revealing book, Peter Maass examines the social, political, and environmental impact of petroleum on the countries that produce it. Every unhappy oil-producing nation is unhappy in its own way, but all are touched by the “resource curse”—the power of oil to exacerbate existing problems and create new ones. Peter Maass presents a vivid portrait of the troubled world oil has created. From Saudi Arabia to Equatorial Guinea, from Venezuela to Iraq, the stories of rebels, royalty, middlemen, environmentalists, indigenous activists, and CEOs—all deftly and sensitively presented—come together in this startling and essential account of the consequences of our addiction to oil.

Africa: Crude Continent

Africa: Crude Continent PDF Author: Duncan Clarke
Publisher: Profile Books
ISBN: 184765455X
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 1341

Book Description
Based on thirty years in the global oil game, intimate knowledge of African history and direct experience of over forty countries, this comprehensive book shows that Africa's flaws are not the whole story, when it comes to the continent's history. A definitive yet original account of the rush for Africa's oil, this is also a guide to the hidden face of Africa. Duncan Clarke begins by placing African oil issues in their historical context before tackling the issues of power, nationalism and different parties' strategies for control that have led to today's oil scene. This book is the ultimate reference work on oil in Africa - which is vital to everyone's future around the world.

Oil

Oil PDF Author: Vaclav Smil
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1786072874
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 224

Book Description
World acclaimed scientist Vaclav Smil reveals everything there is to know about nature's most sought-after resource Oil is the lifeblood of the modern world. Without it, there would be no planes, no plastic, no exotic produce, and a global political landscape few would recognise. Humanity’s dependence upon oil looks set to continue for decades to come, but what is it? Fully updated and packed with fascinating facts to fuel dinner party debate, Professor Vaclav Smil's Oil: A Beginner's Guide explains all matters related to the ‘black stuff’, from its discovery in the earth right through to the controversy that surrounds it today.

Crude Policy

Crude Policy PDF Author: Joel Albert
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 1462067778
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 291

Book Description
The United States is sitting on the brink of total economic collapse. A major energy shortage has crippled the economy. Unemployment and inflation are spiraling out of control. The media is focused on America's impending fall, and a growing state of panic is taking over the country. Unwilling to let the nation decline without a fight, the president has initiated a bold plan to build a major new oil and gas refinery. The new program becomes the beacon of hope for the country—and the target of destruction by America's most deeply rooted enemies, who will go to any lengths to make sure it fails. Brian Larson has worked this whole career to get to this moment: the moment when he would take control over the most powerful oil company in the world. But Brian's hopes and dreams are shattered when the outgoing company president sabotages Brian's advancement, leaving him unemployed for the first time in his career. With no family and few friends, Brian feels lost—until he suddenly finds himself selected to lead the building of the new government refinery. Brian must lead a team of the world's experts in building the refinery—a project that would typically take seven years—in nine months. Brian is reenergized by his key role in saving the country's economy. But will his renewed career and a team of world class engineers be enough to save America from imminent decline?

Total Frat Move

Total Frat Move PDF Author: W.R. Bolen
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
ISBN: 1455515051
Category : Humor
Languages : en
Pages : 180

Book Description
Put simply, it's time for a national update on college fraternities. Greek life today makes Animal House look like a Pixar movie. The amount of alcohol that is being consumed, promiscuous sex that is being enjoyed, and intense drug-induced raging that is taking place on campuses across the country has quietly reached ridiculous new heights. Written with the goal of being the most fun you've ever had reading a book, Total Frat Move pulls back the curtain on this world of hard-partying American decadence. The stories are unabashed. They are hilarious. And they are going to blow you away. You're welcome, world.

The Lexus and the Olive Tree

The Lexus and the Olive Tree PDF Author: Thomas L. Friedman
Publisher: Macmillan
ISBN: 1250013747
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 514

Book Description
Explains how globalization is shaping world affairs, how it replaced the Cold War system, how it is creating a single global market, how it is influencing domestic policies, and other related topics.