Artificial Worlds: Computers, Complexity, and the Riddle of Life

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Summary: Computers and evolution
Review: I am writing review this because a previous review may mislead some people. This book does not claim to deal with Artificial Life; instead, computers are used to provide a better understanding of life's processes, especially evolution. Given that this is the stated objective of the author, the book is excellent, well written, and rich with examples.

I have purchased multiple copies of this book because I have "loaned" my copies to people interested in computational evolution. When I leave administration, I would like to teach a course in evolution, and if it is not too far in the future, I will require this book as outside reading.

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Summary: for the Biology Scientist who wants to make computer models
Review: This book is a must for the Biology scientist knowing a little about computers and how they work, if you want to study the Evolution and nature of life on a computer. I found it so overwhelming that I decided to become a Biology scientist and focus my life on making simulations of the Evolution of Life by making computer models. So many things to discover! So little time!

Rating:
Summary: misleading title
Review: This book is a superficial discussion of evolution on earth, not artificial life. The actual content on artificial life and agents would make a mediocre and short magazine article. This book brings out the shortcommings of buying a book online because less than five minutes in a bookstore aisle would reveal the uselessness of this book.