The Art of Modeling Dynamic Systems: Forecasting for Chaos, Randomness and Determinism (Dover Books on Mathematics)

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 !


Single best reference for "modern" applied modeling   September 29, 1998
11 out of 13 found this review helpful

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.


A masterpiece   January 25, 2002
jerry f (Maine)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

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.


Better and at a Price You Can Afford   September 2, 2008
Foster Morrison (North Potomac, MD USA)
This Dover edition includes some improved graphics and a new Preface that introduces a business cycle model, a hypothesis that quantum behavior is caused by nonlinear resonces of waves, and much more. Of special note is the appearance, at long last, of a CRC "Handbook of Dynamic Systems Modeling" (see product link). If and when Amazon Shorts ever gets back into business, I shall submit some Excel spreadsheets with MS Word documentation that illustrate topics in this book and perhaps examples from others. Some will use the VBA macro language and others just worksheet formulas. With these the reader will be able to explore the examples over a range of parameters and state variables and perhaps even adapt the spreadsheets to modeling tasks of limited complexity. Comments and inquiries may be directed to the email address on p. ix. Handbook of Dynamic System Modeling (Cpaman & Hall/Crc Computer and Information Science)


Mathematical Depth and Descriptive Simplicity   May 21, 2005
Gyro (Sydney Australia)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful



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.