The Story of French describes the ongoing process of the creation of an international language. Extending from the fall of the Roman Empire up to the present-day , the authors mix history with a clever eye to how the past has prepared the way for the present condition of the French language. It is benefited by years of on-site study from Canada and Africa to East Asia - and of course, France.

The book is full of interesting historical tidbits. For the lover of applied history, this book ha... (show more)

The Story of French describes the ongoing process of the creation of an international language. Extending from the fall of the Roman Empire up to the present-day , the authors mix history with a clever eye to how the past has prepared the way for the present condition of the French language. It is benefited by years of on-site study from Canada and Africa to East Asia - and of course, France.

The book is full of interesting historical tidbits. For the lover of applied history, this book has a lot to offer. I would have liked to see more on the early languages and dialects that birthed French, as that time period always interests me more than the modern period. But of necessity, well supported by the authors, heavy emphasis is put on the period from 1700 to the present, which have seen French grow to be more than just the hallmark of high society and scholarship, becoming first a truly national language, and then with fits and starts developing into an international language, increasing the possible influence of French-speaking nations even as France itself wanes in direct influence.

Knowing French is not required to read this book, though it won't hurt. A familiarity with French phonetics is probably more helpful than any other facet of French. The authors do address a number of features of French around the world, such as the use ofargot and regional dialects, changes in spelling and grammar and differences in approaches to vocabulary development around the French-speaking world (especially contrasting Quebec and France).

English naturally takes a large role in this book, and the authors seem torn at times between viewing it as friend, or at least amicable companion, or foe. They solidly portray French as not being opposed to English, and even benefiting from its ascent. At the same time, English is often presented as anever-present competitor for the hearts and minds of those within international organizations such as the United Nations.

The facts and opinions presented are definitely biased by a distance from France. Benoît is from Quebec, a fact that repeatedly plays into his relationships and conversations with French speakers around the world. This at some points works well with the point the author is trying to make, but this is not always the case. For instance, I found Benoît to be overly critical of the French Academy's usefulness, even when he was clear about its purpose and mission.

Also, I found that the book often strays from topic - or at least takes extended side trips. For example, descriptions of the many scientific achievements of Frenchmen likely intended to show that French once was and continues to be a language conducive to scientific discourse. However, it continued for many pages, failing to circle back to the main focus. While many sections were very well organized and had just the right balance between supporting information and historical assertions, this was not always the case.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed reading it, and getting a better feel for how history and the language itself are intertwined. (show less)

Complexity: A Guided Tour is a wonderful introduction to the study of complexity, computation and information systems. The reader is guided, much as the title suggests, through a wide array of fields affected by the ongoing study of systems that don't fit in nice little packages. The book is part scientific-lay-of-the-land, part history and part autobiography. It provides a framework for understanding how this science has developed in relation to other fields, while giving practical examples ... (show more)

Complexity: A Guided Tour is a wonderful introduction to the study of complexity, computation and information systems. The reader is guided, much as the title suggests, through a wide array of fields affected by the ongoing study of systems that don't fit in nice little packages. The book is part scientific-lay-of-the-land, part history and part autobiography. It provides a framework for understanding how this science has developed in relation to other fields, while giving practical examples that a creative reader could immediately start playing with in their minds; those inclined could even begin "experimenting" with the concepts.

I enjoyed reading this book immensely. Mitchell's style is wonderful - part student part mentor - guiding the reader through heady topics, but not afraid to say, "I don't know..." when it is appropriate. I have found many "scientific" works to be dogmatic and unwavering; self-assured would be an understatement. Not so with this. It is aware of both complexity's promise and its pitfalls, the work already accomplished and the road ahead. Mitchell presents science as almost a living organism in itself, one that slowly develops, sometimes making false steps, sometimes taking leaps and bounds forwards.

Topics covered include "Turing" machines, cellular automatons, economics, logistic maps, fractals and "chaos", population dynamics, genetic algorithms, genetics, evolution and metabolic theory, to name a few. I by chance watched The Dark Knight immediately after finishing this, and was amazed at how that made sections of it come alive (specifically, the use of the Prisoner's Dilemma as a plot element). Very little math is required, though a good grasp of algebra and a love for patterns is helpful. In place of complicated proofs, I found lots of well-given descriptions of models, helpful illustrations and explanatory instructions that enabled the reader grasp where a model was going and how it emphasized or clarified the topic at hand.

Mitchell, also, is not afraid to step on toes. In particular, her handling of genetics and evolution theory are likely to create rancor on many sides. She denigrates those who denounce evolution for religious reasons, but gives no room for pride and arrogance in those who blindly assert that natural selection is the primary mover in evolutionary theory (The Modern Synthesis). With cogent examples and well-thought out critique, she presents science as a moving target, requiring both optimism and caution in all.

It is a book that is intensely self-aware; not going too far, yet not afraid to push the reader. I would especially target this book to those who enjoy algorithms, history and the quest for unifying principles (whether they exist or not!). (show less)