Book Reviews

In his new book Alternate Realities: Mathematical Models of Nature and Man (New York: John Wiley and Sons, 1989, 493 pages, $34.95), John L. Casti gives us an impressive, up-todate look at several areas of mathematics that are being applied to the study of biological and sociological systems. These areas, including cellular automata theory, catastrophe theory, nonlinear dynamics and chaos, game theory, and control theory, are finding use on the frontiers of scientific research. Although these areas and their applications are described in various other sources, both on the level of a scientist and a layperson, I know of no other book that brings them all together to show how they can be used in scientific research. However, this book suffers from being written for mathematical specialists and, therefore, limits the potential readership. An opportunity to educate more scientists in the use of mathematical models is regrettably missed.