G. Bard Ermentrout.pdf

The Emerging Science of Spontaneous Order, by Steve Strogatz, explores the concept of synchrony, where interactions between individuals lead to the emergence of coherent actions. The book covers various examples, from fireflies to Josephson junctions, and discusses the mathematics behind synchrony, including coupled oscillators and phase-locked phenomena. Strogatz presents his personal scientific experiences and discoveries, making the book readable and intuitive, with clever analogies and equation-free explanations. The review highlights the book's strengths, such as its ability to find connections between disparate phenomena, but also notes its weaknesses, including the glossing over of important differences between mechanisms. The reviewer, G. Bard Ermentrout, provides additional mathematical context and outlines some of the hidden mathematics in the book, discussing topics like strict synchrony, phase-locked synchrony, and statistical physics.