Description:
UsedGood. Fast shipping and order satisfaction guaranteed. A portion of your purchase benefits Non-Profit Organizations, First Aid and Fire Stations!
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
From the publisher
First line
IT WAS 11 A.M. ON A FINE SUMMER MORNING IN SARAJEVO, JUNE 28, 1914, when the driver of an automobile carrying two passengers made a wrong turn.
From the jacket flap
Why do catastrophes happen? What sets off earthquakes, for example? What about mass extinctions of species? The outbreak of major wars? Massive traffic jams that seem to appear out of nowhere? Why does the stock market periodically suffer dramatic crashes? Why do some forest fires become superheated infernos that rage totally out of control?
Experts have never been able to explain the causes of any of these disasters. Now scientists have discovered that these seemingly unrelated cataclysms, both natural and human, almost certainly all happen for one fundamental reason. More than that, there is not and never will be any way to predict them.
Critically acclaimed science journalist Mark Buchanan tells the fascinating story of the discovery that there is a natural structure of instability woven into the fabric of our world. From humble beginnings studying the physics of sandpiles, scientists have learned that an astonishing range of things-Earth's crust, cars on a highway, the market for stocks, and the tightly woven networks of human society-have a natural tendency to organize themselves into what's called the "critical state," in which they are poised on what Buchanan describes as the "knife-edge of instability." The more places scientists have looked for the critical state, the more places they've found it, and some believe that the pervasiveness of instability must now be seen as a fundamental feature of our world.
Ubiquity is packed with stories of real-life catastrophes, such as the huge earthquake that in 1995 hit Kobe, Japan, killing 5,000 people; the forest fires that ravaged Yellowstone National Park in 1988; the stock market crash of 1987; the mass extinction thatkilled off the dinosaurs; and the outbreak of World War I. Combining literary flair with scientific rigor, Buchanan introduces the researchers who have pieced together the evidence of the critical state, explaining their ingenious work and unexpected insights in beautifully lucid prose.
At the dawn of this new century, Buchanan reveals, we are witnessing the emergence of an extraordinarily powerful new field of science that will help us comprehend the bewildering and unruly rhythms that dominate our lives and may even lead to a true science of the dynamics of human culture and history.
Experts have never been able to explain the causes of any of these disasters. Now scientists have discovered that these seemingly unrelated cataclysms, both natural and human, almost certainly all happen for one fundamental reason. More than that, there is not and never will be any way to predict them.
Critically acclaimed science journalist Mark Buchanan tells the fascinating story of the discovery that there is a natural structure of instability woven into the fabric of our world. From humble beginnings studying the physics of sandpiles, scientists have learned that an astonishing range of things-Earth's crust, cars on a highway, the market for stocks, and the tightly woven networks of human society-have a natural tendency to organize themselves into what's called the "critical state," in which they are poised on what Buchanan describes as the "knife-edge of instability." The more places scientists have looked for the critical state, the more places they've found it, and some believe that the pervasiveness of instability must now be seen as a fundamental feature of our world.
Ubiquity is packed with stories of real-life catastrophes, such as the huge earthquake that in 1995 hit Kobe, Japan, killing 5,000 people; the forest fires that ravaged Yellowstone National Park in 1988; the stock market crash of 1987; the mass extinction thatkilled off the dinosaurs; and the outbreak of World War I. Combining literary flair with scientific rigor, Buchanan introduces the researchers who have pieced together the evidence of the critical state, explaining their ingenious work and unexpected insights in beautifully lucid prose.
At the dawn of this new century, Buchanan reveals, we are witnessing the emergence of an extraordinarily powerful new field of science that will help us comprehend the bewildering and unruly rhythms that dominate our lives and may even lead to a true science of the dynamics of human culture and history.
"From the Hardcover edition.
Details
- Title Ubiquity: Why Catastrophes Happen
- Author Mark Buchanan
- Binding Paperback
- Edition Reprint
- Pages 288
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Crown Publishing Group (NY), U.S.A.
- Date November 5, 2002
- Illustrated Yes
- Features Bibliography, Illustrated, Index
- ISBN 9780609809983 / 0609809989
- Weight 0.55 lbs (0.25 kg)
- Dimensions 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.7 in (20.07 x 13.21 x 1.78 cm)
- Library of Congress subjects Disasters, Natural disasters
- Library of Congress Catalog Number 2001028365
- Dewey Decimal Code 530.01
Excerpt
About the author
More Copies for Sale
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
Ubiquity: Why Catastrophes Happen
by Buchanan, Mark
- Used
- Condition
- UsedGood
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780609809983 / 0609809989
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Annandale, New Jersey, United States
- Item Price
-
$2.99$3.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
Item Price
$2.99
$3.99
shipping to USA
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
Ubiquity: Why Catastrophes Happen
by Buchanan, Mark
- Used
- Good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780609809983 / 0609809989
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Simi Valley, California, United States
- Item Price
-
$3.51$3.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Broadway Books, 2002-11-05. Paperback. Good. 0.7000 7.9000 5.2000. pages yellowed, minor wear and creasing
Item Price
$3.51
$3.99
shipping to USA
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
Ubiquity: Why Catastrophes Happen
by Buchanan, Mark
- Used
- Good
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Edition
- Reprint
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780609809983 / 0609809989
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Item Price
-
$5.37FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Crown. Reprint. Good. Good. Ship within 24hrs. Satisfaction 100% guaranteed. APO/FPO addresses supported
Item Price
$5.37
FREE shipping to USA
Ubiquity : Why Catastrophes Happen
by Mark Buchanan
- Used
- Good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780609809983 / 0609809989
- Quantity Available
- 4
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.19FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Crown/Archetype, 2002. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$6.19
FREE shipping to USA
Ubiquity : Why Catastrophes Happen
by Mark Buchanan
- Used
- Very Good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780609809983 / 0609809989
- Quantity Available
- 6
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.19FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Crown/Archetype, 2002. Paperback. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$6.19
FREE shipping to USA
Ubiquity : Why Catastrophes Happen
by Mark Buchanan
- Used
- as new
- Paperback
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780609809983 / 0609809989
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.19FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Crown/Archetype, 2002. Paperback. As New. Disclaimer:Pages are clean and are not marred by notes or folds of any kind. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$6.19
FREE shipping to USA
Ubiquity : Why Catastrophes Happen
by Mark Buchanan
- Used
- Very Good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780609809983 / 0609809989
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.19FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Crown/Archetype, 2002. Paperback. Very Good. Disclaimer:A copy that has been read, but remains in excellent condition. Pages are intact and are not marred by notes or highlighting, but may contain a neat previous owner name. The spine remains undamaged. An ex-library book and may have standard library stamps and/or stickers. At ThriftBooks, our motto is: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$6.19
FREE shipping to USA
Ubiquity : Why Catastrophes Happen
by Mark Buchanan
- Used
- Good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780609809983 / 0609809989
- Quantity Available
- 3
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.19FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Crown/Archetype, 2002. Paperback. Good. Disclaimer:Former library book; Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
$6.19
FREE shipping to USA
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
Ubiquity: Why Catastrophes Happen
by Buchanan, Mark
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used: Good
- Edition
- Reprint
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780609809983 / 0609809989
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
- Item Price
-
$10.05FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Broadway Books, 2002-11-05. Reprint. paperback. Used: Good.
Item Price
$10.05
FREE shipping to USA
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
Ubiquity : Why Catastrophes Happen
by Buchanan, Mark
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780609809983 / 0609809989
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Reno, Nevada, United States
- Item Price
-
$10.91FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Crown Publishing Group, The. Used - Good. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages.
Item Price
$10.91
FREE shipping to USA