Drawing examplesfrom mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, economics, medicine, politics, and sports, this book illustrates how nonlinear dynamics plays a vital role in our world. Examples cover a wide range from the spread and possible control of communicable diseases, to the lack of predictability in long-range weather forecasting, to competition between political groups and nations.

After an introductorychapter that explores what it means to be nonlinear, the book covers the mathematical conceptssuch as limit cycles, fractals, chaos, bifurcations, and solitons,...