Complexity: The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos

Name: Complexity: The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos
Price: 11.53 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.4 (680 reviews)
Author: M. Mitchell Waldrop

by M. Mitchell Waldrop

Nonfiction Science Fiction

4.4 (680)

4.4 stars from 680 reviews. Top 93% of Nonfiction books we track.

380 pages~6.3 hr readPublished by Audible Studios on Brilliance AudioPublished 1992-01-01

$11.53Near peak price

Last checked: May 21, 2026

Price history: $1.99 – $12.15

While not the biggest discount we've seen for this book, it's still a great deal and we recommend grabbing it before price returns to its normal range.

Price range: $1.99 – $12.15

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Perfect for you if...

You're fascinated by how systems work across different fields. biology, economics, physics. and want to see them connected.
You enjoyed Chaos by James Gleick and are hungry for the next big idea in science that actually changes how we think.
You're curious about the Santa Fe Institute and want an insider's view of how a revolution in thinking actually happens.

Maybe not for you if...

You want a step-by-step technical manual. This is narrative science history, not a how-to guide for complexity maths.
You prefer books that stick to one discipline. Waldrop jumps between physics, biology, economics, and computer science constantly.
You need recent research and cutting-edge discoveries. This was published in 1992 and reads as a snapshot of that moment.

About this book

Complexity traces the emergence of a new scientific field born from a revolution in academic research. The movement's participants include Nobel Laureates in physics and economics alongside mathematicians and computer scientists from around the world. They established an unconventional think-tank dedicated to creating what they call the science of complexity. Their central questions concern how simple molecules from a primordial soup evolved into the first living cell approximately four billion years ago, and what the origin of life reveals about technological innovation in the present day. The book documents their efforts to develop what they view as the science of the twenty-first century, showing how researchers across physics, biology, computer science, and economics exchange ideas and pursue discoveries in complex systems.

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Price History

Kindle price over time. Green zones = periods when the book was free.

$1.99 – $12.15

Price has dropped 44 times over the last 5 years. Goes on sale roughly every 43 days. Typically stays discounted for 21 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Currently around #27K in the Kindle store — a steady mid-list seller. Climbing the charts — 22% improvement recently.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

Currently 4.4★ from 680 reviews

Gaining approximately 4 new reviews per month. Rating has climbed from 4.3 to 4.4. Recent readers are rating it higher.

Sale Prediction

Actual Predicted

This book goes on sale roughly every 43 days. Next drop estimated in about 4 weeks. Typical discount: 84% off.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.