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Summary: Perfect introduction to Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos
Review: If you have read about Chaos and Nonlinear Dynamics and you wish to delve deeper into the mathematics behind the theories then this is the book for you. Strogatz is an excellent writer with an uncanny ability to make advanced concepts seem amazingly simple. The exercises and examples make this book perfect for the motivated self-learner. I must warn you however that you had better be at least somewhat familiar with ODE before you dive into this text. I strongly recommend this book!
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Summary: Great book
Review: It is an absolutely marvelous text. I was looking for a text which introduced nonlinear dynamics and all its interesting applications to professors and scientists whose common background included only 1 year of calculus. All I could find was higher level math books, which for the most part were very boring as they got lost in an orgy of math. This text introduces concepts using an intuitive, graphical approach. The mathematics is rigorous, but boring details are avoided. There are fantastic examples in all areas of science. I have often noted that there are many science texts but far too few good ones. This is a great one.
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Summary: Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful!
Review: It is an astoundingly simple book. A book that takes you into the world of chaos with examples from Romeo & Juliet ( I enjoyed it most) to more serious stuff. The author's love for the subject shines through every word he writes. Lots of simple examples all the way hold your attention as you explore this exciting field.A must for beginners in nonlinear dynamics.
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Summary: thanks to Dr. Strogatz!
Review: It is an essential book for everybody who wants to learn nonlinear dynamics. It is writen by the master in the field in a very clear and understandable language.
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Summary: Excellent Intro to Nonlinear Dynamics
Review: It is an excellent introduction to nonlinear dynamics and also one of the most instructive and well written course book I ever read.
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Summary: Excellent introduction and reference text
Review: It is rare that books of this type are both comprehensive and readable. Strogatz has managed to cover a wide range of concepts in significant detail while providing examples to illustrate his major points.The beginning of the text starts of with one dimensional nonlinear systems of first order (like the logistic equation), and Strogatz outlines the typical framework that one uses to analyze such systems. He defines fixed points, illustrates and defines bifurcations, and solidifies every claim with good examples. The text eventually moves to higher order systems with coupled or non-coupled sets of differential equations. For the most part, exercises for the student involve sets of two differential equations that can be linearized using Jacobian methods. Later, Strogatz provides a nicely executed description of fractals and fractal dimension, using examples from the Cantor set and the von Koch curve. The beauty of the book is that it is well written and complete. It even provides some limited solutions to selected exercises in the back. The examples in the book cover a wide range of areas. Mechanical oscillating systems like a mass on a spring, electrical circuits that follow the same equations, laser models that follow a modified logistic equation, and many variations of the Lotka-Volterra model are outlined through examples in the text. The book is a stand-alone text, equally useful as a textbook for an intorductory course or as a reference for someone merely surveying the subject. It deserves the highest rating possible.
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Summary: Excellent introduction and reference text
Review: It is rare that books of this type are both comprehensive and readable. Strogatz has managed to cover a wide range of concepts in significant detail while providing examples to illustrate his major points. The beginning of the text starts of with one dimensional nonlinear systems of first order (like the logistic equation), and Strogatz outlines the typical framework that one uses to analyze such systems. He defines fixed points, illustrates and defines bifurcations, and solidifies every claim with good examples. The text eventually moves to higher order systems with coupled or non-coupled sets of differential equations. For the most part, exercises for the student involve sets of two differential equations that can be linearized using Jacobian methods. Later, Strogatz provides a nicely executed description of fractals and fractal dimension, using examples from the Cantor set and the von Koch curve. The beauty of the book is that it is well written and complete. It even provides some limited solutions to selected exercises in the back. The examples in the book cover a wide range of areas. Mechanical oscillating systems like a mass on a spring, electrical circuits that follow the same equations, laser models that follow a modified logistic equation, and many variations of the Lotka-Volterra model are outlined through examples in the text. The book is a stand-alone text, equally useful as a textbook for an intorductory course or as a reference for someone merely surveying the subject. It deserves the highest rating possible.
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Summary: Fantastic Introduction to Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos
Review: Strogatz gradually introduces you into the analysis of Dynamics, their interpretation and Evaluation all that with just moderate Calculus, Basic Ordinary Differential Equations and very Little Algebra. It is also suited for easy self study. It is very Pedagogic Stressing in the Interpretation and Understanding of Topics due to its detailed and compresive explanatons chapter by chapter. Allthou it is enriched with many applied examples in Physics, Biology, Chemistry,... Making it extreme easy to follow all the topics as well as deepenig more in them. It is a jewell among the introductory Chaos Theory and Nonlinear Dynamics books towards the multidisciplinarity of Science in the coming Century.
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Summary: Chaos on a plate
Review: Strogatz's approach to Nonlinear Dynamics is suitable for anyone equipped with a good basic understanding of ordinary differential equations. He allows the reader to gradually build-up their understanding through a series of illustrations and examples - this is the sort of book that will be indispensable the night before a final year undergraduate Chaos and Nonlinear Dynamics exam. Not excessively mathematical, contains solid explanations and encourages the reader to learn more about this fantastic area of physics.
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Summary: Great intro to nonlinear dynamics with excellent examples
Review: This book is an excellent introductory graduate level text on nonlinear dynamics for those who wish to understand the basic concepts before seeing the mathematical rigor at the heart of the subject. Strogatz avoids getting caught up in mathematical nuances which often cloud the big picture for non-math students, and thereby clearly impresses upon the reader the essence of nonlinear dynamics, eventually building up to chaos. The examples and problems are truly unique and inspiring. This book is an excellent starting place for someone who knows little or nothing about nonlinear dynamics but has done some basic work with linear differential equations and linear algebra.
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