Escape from Model Land: How Mathematical Models Can Lead Us Astray and What We Can Do About It
(Hardback)
Available Formats
Hardback
Published: 28th March 2023
Paperback
Published: 29th November 2022
Paperback
Published: 27th February 2024
Publishing Details
Escape from Model Land: How Mathematical Models Can Lead Us Astray and What We Can Do About It
By (Author) Erica Thompson
John Murray Press
Basic Books
28th March 2023
24th November 2022
United Kingdom
Classifications
Tertiary Education
Non Fiction
Popular science
511.8
Physical Properties
Hardback
256
Width 156mm, Height 236mm, Spine 26mm
460g
Description
Shortlisted for Best Maths Book of 2022 by Chaulkdust Magazine
'A brilliant account of how models are so often abused and of how they should be used' John KayHow do mathematical models shape our world - and how can we harness their power for goodModels are at the centre of everything we do. Whether we use them or are simply affected by them, they act as metaphors that help us better understand the increasingly complex problems facing us in the modern world. Without models, we couldn't begin to tackle three of the major challenges facing modern society: regulation of the economy, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet in recent years, the validity of the models we use has been hotly debated and there has been renewed awareness of the disastrous consequences when the makers and interpreters of models get things wrong.Drawing on contemporary examples from finance, climate and health policy, Erica Thompson explores what models are, why we need them, how they work and what happens when they go wrong. This is not a book that argues we should do away with models, but rather, that we need to properly understand how they are constructed - and how some of the assumptions that underlie the models we use can have significant unintended consequences. Unexpectedly humorous, thought-provoking and passionate, this is essential reading for everyone.Reviews
A brilliant account of how models are so often abused and of how they should be used -- John Kay
A wise, lucid and compelling guide to how mathematical modelling shapes our world. Dr Thompson teaches us how to go from being unthinking consumers of models to sophisticated users, combining a rich variety of vivid examples and case studies with deep conceptual expertise -- Stian Westlake, CEO, Royal Statistical Society
Demystifies the process of making the mathematical models that are increasingly used to make decisions about our lives . . . A thought-provoking and helpful guide for data scientists and decision makers alike -- Stephanie Hare, author of TECHNOLOGY IS NOT NEUTRAL
Carefully researched and beautifully written . . . For an open-minded reader keen to expose, understand and potentially reconstruct their own worldview, Escape from Model Land is, at the same time, an uncomfortable and uplifting read. It shines a gentle light on many of our own norms and beliefs -- Kevin Anderson
An eye-opening account . . . Thompson offers a host of lessons . . . The result is a thoughtful, convincing look at how data works -- Publisher's Weekly
Brilliant . . . a highly engaging work of popular science -- E&T Magazine
[A] healthy realism about data, algorithms and their limitations . . . Thompson asks data scientists to be conscious of the choices and values in a model's design . . . [offering] the basis for a constructive agenda -- The Economist
Author Bio
Erica Thompson is a senior policy fellow at the London School of Economics' Data Science Institute and a fellow of the London Mathematical Laboratory. With a PhD from Imperial College, she has recently worked on the limitations of models of COVID-19 spread, humanitarian crises, and climate change. She lives in West Wales.
