The Art of Modeling Dynamic Systems: Forecasting for Chaos, Randomness, and Determinism

I find myself agreeing with all the comments made so far. It's not too common to find a book that is able to describe in simple terms, such a large and diverse range of mathematical tools. The author uses a framework - to tie together tools used in describing and handling deterministic, semi deterministic, and stochastic systems. For an example of Deterministic, try ODE's (ordinary differential equations), for semi deterministic - try Periodic but noisy wave-forms (some stock prices), and finally Stochastic - Random looking waveforms that have underlying patterns that can be described using either using Chaotic indicators (Hurst, Liapunov ) or probability type descriptors. This book is the kind of thing you needed to help steer you through those dry mathematical books that are divorced from reality - A sort of classification system for deciphering what kind of gunpowder was used in those display's of intellectual fireworks from the tops of ivory towers. Kinda "So thats what all that maths means, but in plain english". A depth of understanding, for practical application, without intellectual egotism and opaqueness. (But then maybe I'm just a bit thick ... :) I'd tend to call this book as an equivalent to the Rosetta Stone for the maths of dynamical systems. You may not use it directly - but you will benefit and grow in understanding from its' plain and simple sign posts along your journey. It has its place on my book shelf.

This is the kind of book that should be available in every area of science and mathematics. A book that is not a research book, but yet is not a broad popularization. This book can benefit both persons who are just beginning a study of dynamic modeling and I dare say things will be learned by even those that are researchers in the area. Good work Foster Morrison whoever you are.

This book is certainly the best book you'll find around for treating in depth the subject of modeling dynamic systems. The style is clear and very intuitive. It provides a well-structured identification of dynamic systems and explains the "what you can do and what you cannot" for modeling all types of dynamic systems. It's true that it can be hard to find but waiting some couple of weeks certainly is no reason for not trying to get this extraordinary overview of dynamic systems !The only drawback you could find is that it is too short... reading it makes you want more...so using it as an introduction to dynamic systems can only motivate you at going further in the field of dynamic systems modeling !

This is a fantastic book and I'm sorry it's hard to get now. I found it by accident in a used book store in Madison, WI, in 1995 and found I learned a lot from it, even though by that time I had already taken multiple classes in Differential Equations, Linear Algebra, Statistics, etc. Dr. Morrison really sets out in lucid detail many of the important developments in applied modeling theory--dynamical systems, stochastic systems, the fudamentals that lie behind them--from a very useful perspective, and one that is often missing from the orthodox academic treatments. What he chooses not to cover in detail he references thoroughly. I wish that I had had this book when I was learning many of the topics. Anyone who is seriously considering learning dynamic modeling should read this book and I have little doubt that fairly experienced modelers will find something between the covers.