Return to Book Page. Preview — Games of Life by Karl Sigmund. This book takes us on a tour through the games and computer simulations that are helping us to understand ecology, evolution and behaviour. Get A Copy. Paperback , pages. Published July 1st by Penguin Books first published August 26th More Details Original Title. Other Editions 4. Friend Reviews. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Games of Life , please sign up.
Lists with This Book. Community Reviews. Showing Average rating 4. Rating details. More filters. Sort order. Let me compare the two: Dawkins is like a Mahler symphony - impressive, pondering and ponderous, every salvo planned in advance. Meanwhile, Karl Sigmund's little book is as playful and giddy as a Weber clarinet concerto. Whereas Dawkins keeps smashing away at the idea of God, Sigmund indulges in a cheeky sort of belief. Charles Darwin may have seen God as a blind watchmaker; but Sigmund's God is a clumsy programmer, who ranks somewhere above your cubicle-mates but way below Goethe on the coolness scale.
Will they sometimes feel doubts about whether they mean more to Him than a few specks of dust on the Life-plane? With all due respect to God and Goethe, needless to say , it may be added that it is the solidity of the wood, in fact, which limits the size of the trees.
Perhaps Sigmund has made a version of Pascal's wager i. Here, Sigmund says "We don't know if God exists, but let's believe in Him anyway. Nothing to lose and a whole book of nerd jokes to gain! May 21, Matthew Talbert rated it really liked it. This book is at the cross section of biology, information theory, and mathematics and consists essentially of fascinating examples and work done in each field.
I really enjoyed the section on artificial life, and even more, the extensive discussion of evolution in sexually reproducing species. Aug 20, Jimi Olivo added it. I don't like to review books, but I just had to say something about this one Absolutely awesome. Eye opening on every page. Dec 11, Abhinaba rated it it was amazing. Time and time again it puts the emphasis on the importance of mathematics and also ponders on the fact that bio and bio-chemistry owe a lot to it.
And one thing more, the first of the living organisms didn't try to keep themselves alive only, they replicated and survived. It is their information DNA that was transmitted "Playful" To start with, there are lots of analogies taken from 'life' to explain theories, but in return you can easily pick up the ideas and see their truths in day to day work.
It is their information DNA that was transmitted. So to speak I think for us, humans, we are above other organisms with our capabilities to think. The DNA is being passed on nonetheless. But our life should be dedicated to an idea s. It is the information that we can pass. There is no good in boasting of oneself, having false pride and ego.
Rather one should strive to make progress on a field, an idea, for that is the only good that we can be remembered for. Aug 15, Dirk Nachbar rated it it was amazing. May 15, Cody McCoy rated it it was amazing.
Outstanding, with hilarious bits and captivating writing. Will be a hit for anyone interested in biology, game theory, and mathematics. Dec 01, Alan Clark rated it liked it. Nuncius successor of "Annali" — Brill.
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