An Introduction to Cybernetics

by William Ross Ashby

W. Ross Ashby was one of the greatest thinkers and a leader in Cybernetics. This book is one of the most insightful books into the nature of living entities.

Genres: Science, Engineering, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Technology, Mathematics, Psychology

295 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

Reviews

[Sicofonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Introduction to Cybernetics is what is says in the tin. Divided in three parts, namely Mechanism, Variety and Regulation and Control; each part builds on top of the previous one. With the first part, Mechanism, introducing a solid theoretical foundation upon which everything else relies on.
There are plenty of exercises throughout the book, to help the reader assimilate what sometimes can be abstract concepts. And bonus points given because the solutions are included in an appendix at the end of the book.
Originally published in 1956, I didn't feel that this book is in any way obsolete. Quite the opposite, because it really starts off from basic concepts, I think it is a perfect starting point for anybody wanting to learn what Cybernetics is about.
My only criticism is that the last part, Regulation and Control feels a bit rushed, especially the last chapter around amplifying regulation.
Nonetheless, I found remarkable the prophetic note with which Ashby finished the book:
We know that power of selection can be amplified, it seems to follow that intellectual power, like physical power, can be amplified. We can now do it synthetically, consciously, deliberately.

[TK Keanini · Rating 5 out of 5]

W. Ross Ashby was one of the greatest thinkers and a leader in Cybernetics. This book is out on the Internet in PDF form and an important text to read.

[Aleksey Timin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Книга расширила мои представления о кибернетике. Здесь можно найти много интересного об управлении большими недетерминированными системами, многоуровневом управлении и т.д. Книга подходит для неискушенного в математике читателя, т.к. многое объясняется "на пальцах". Но несмотря на интересный материал ставлю 4 из 5 потому, что многие формулировки очень тяжелы для понимания и не все примеры кажутся очевидными.

[Ed van der Winden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very important book. Large parts are very simple, but unfortunately this sometimes hides the fact that some of the conclusions of this book are very profound and important. The full potential and possible impact of the use of cybernetics is therefore not always clear. Only by combining the contents of this book with other works (primarily Stafford Beer's) did I get the full picture.

So, yes it is an introduction, but it is worth rereading after some more study.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one of the most insightful books into the nature of living entities.

[Who · Rating 4 out of 5]

For what it is, this is an excellent primer. Filled with an engaging, witty style and passionate eccentricity. Unfortunately, it's also severely dated for application in a 2000's context

[Manuel Pita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel lucky to own this book. Many of the core ideas that led to the emergence of complexity as a scientific discipline are beautifully explained in this book.

[Sahelanth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Of historical interest. I liked the concept that a perfect regulator is one that breaks the correlation between the state of the outside world and the state of the thing it's regulating. The practice problems are often built with assumptions a modern audience might not make; they were fun, but I learned little from them.

This is essentially a 60-year-old math textbook. It walks you through basic matrix operations to motivate a particular account of what "regulation" means. The math is easier to get from a more recent textbook, and the history would be more vivid in a secondary source than in this primary source.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A highly important book with a deceivingly simple title. It is only an ‘introduction’ because Ashby repeatedly cuts himself short rather than continue to explore advanced ideas. This book is a collection of fundamental principles of cybernetics. The prose is interspersed with algebra and ‘exercises’ which can be a little jarring. Nevertheless very impressive overall and still essential after 65 years.

[Travis Tazelaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning about the Law of Requisite Variety was the very best part about this book.

[Mateo Espina Mairal · Rating 3 out of 5]

funk me

[Lysergius · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction to an interesting subject.

[Bastian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harte Kost! Habe nicht alles gelesen, da das Niveau doch sehr hoch ist. Das Kapitel indem Ashby das Law of Requisite Variety erklärt ist genial! Ich wage mich in einigen Jahren nochmal an das Buch.