Four Ways of Thinking: A Journey Into Human Complexity

David Sumpter

Book cover for Four Ways of Thinking: A Journey Into Human Complexity
Book cover for Four Ways of Thinking: A Journey Into Human Complexity

Four Ways of Thinking: A Journey Into Human Complexity

Four Ways of Thinking: A Journey Into Human Complexity

David Sumpter

Member Benefits

  • 30% Off All Books - Savings that support storytellers, not stock prices.
  • Fight Book Bans - Every membership sends a book to LGBTQ+ youth in affected states.
Member Book Price
$29.99 $20.99
Non-Member Book Price $29.99

An annual membership will be billed at $48/year.

Discount applies to first-time members only. Already a member? Log in here.

View full details

Description

Acclaimed mathematician David Sumpter shares practical and insightful solutions for navigating the chaos and complexity of our lives

What is the best way to think about the world? How often do we consider how our own thinking might impact the way we approach our daily decisions? Could it help or hinder our relationships, our careers, or even our health?

As acclaimed mathematician David Sumpter shows, thinking about thinking is something we rarely do, yet it is something science questions all the time. He has spent decades studying what we could all learn from the mindsets of scientists, and Four Ways of Thinking is the result. Here he reveals the four easily applied approaches to our problems: statistical, interactive, chaotic, and complex. Combining engaging personal experience with practical advice and inspiring tales of groundbreaking scientific pioneers (with a tiny bit of number crunching along the way), Sumpter shows how these tried and tested methods can help us with every conundrum, from how to bicker less with our partners to pitching to a tough crowd--and in doing so, change our lives.

About the Author

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.

Critical Reviews

Praise for Four Ways of Thinking

"Eccentrically fascinating and enjoyable." --The Guardian

"I wish David Sumpter had been my maths teacher. I hated the subject at school. I hoover up his books now... This new book takes a step further towards the personal and everyday. It unpicks four big 20th-century ideas, all related to mathematical modeling of real-world behavior. Sumpter calls these approaches statistical, interactive (broadly meaning how interactions between individuals create patterns), chaotic (derived from chaos theory) and complex (from complexity theory). His particular genius is to apply these ways of thinking to relatable situations..." --The Sunday Times

Publishing Information

Publisher: Flatiron Books
Pub date: 2024-08-27
Length: 320 pages

The Allstora Membership

Membership Perks:

  • Save 30% on all online store purchases
  • Exclusive access to author's content
  • You pay less, but authors still earn double

Membership Terms:

First Month: $0.00
Monthly price: $5.00
  • To access membership discount simply log in and add to cart, discount applied automatically.
  • One month free trial, cancel anytime. Membership renews on the 15th of each month.