Four Ways of Thinking: Statistical, Interactive, Chaotic and Complex

(Paperback)

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Description

A charming, original guide to how maths can help us see through the chaos and complexity of our lives Beyond all the facts and figures, there is just one question at the heart of science- what is the best way to think about the world Yet in our everyday lives, this is something we rarely consider. How often do we wonder about our own thinking and how it might impact the way we approach our daily decisions How it might help or hinder our relationships, our careers, or even our health Acclaimed mathematician David Sumpter has spent decades pondering what we could all learn from the attitudes and mindsets of scientists. Four Ways of Thinking is the result. Combining engaging personal experience with insightful analyses of everyday conundrums and life choices - from how to bicker less with our partners to the best way to pitch to an unreceptive audience - Sumpter shows there are four easily applied approaches to our problems- statistical, interactive, chaotic and complex. With warmth and wit - and a tiny bit of number crunching - he guides us through all four, revealing how these tried and tested ways of thinking can change our lives. Along the way, he tells the inspiring stories of the ground-breaking mathematicians, biologists and rocket scientists who first put them into practice and transformed the world.

Reviews

I wish David Sumpter had been my maths teacher. I hated the subject at school. I hoover up his books now. . . He unpicks four big 20th-century ideas, all related to mathematical modelling of real-world behaviour. His particular genius is to apply these ways of thinking to relatable situations -- James McConnachie * The Sunday Times *
A mathematician tries to make sense of the world through different lenses in this surprisingly original book. . . Eccentrically fascinating and enjoyable -- Steven Poole * Guardian *
Four Ways of Thinking by mathematician David Sumpter shows numbers illuminating human complexities positing that all phenomena are, mathematically speaking, either stable, periodic, chaotic or complex. Learn the differences between these phenomena, and you are halfway to better understanding your own life gripping * New Scientist *
Packed with practical examples and insightful wisdom, this book will sharpen your mind, empower your decision-making, and leave you equipped to navigate life's challenges with wit and acumen. A highly enjoyable and effective guide to better thinking -- Sabine Hossenfelder

Author Bio

David Sumpter is Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Uppsala, Sweden. He is the author of the international bestseller The Ten Equations that Rule the World as well as Soccermatics and Outnumbered which have been translated into ten languages. He has worked with a number of the world's biggest football clubs, advising on analytics.