Borrow it
Coverart for item
The Resource The doomsday calculation : how an equation that predicts the future is transforming everything we know about life and the universe, William Poundstone

The doomsday calculation : how an equation that predicts the future is transforming everything we know about life and the universe, William Poundstone

Creator
Author
Summary
In the 18th century, the British minister and mathematician Thomas Bayes devised a theorem that allowed him to assign probabilities to events that had never happened before. It languished in obscurity for centuries until computers came along and made it easy to crunch the numbers. Now, as the foundation of big data, Bayes' formula has become a linchpin of the digital economy. But here's where things get really interesting: Bayes' theorem can also be used to lay odds on the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence; on whether we live in a Matrix-like counterfeit of reality; on the "many worlds" interpretation of quantum theory being correct; and on the biggest question of all: how long will humanity survive? The Doomsday Calculation tells how Silicon Valley's profitable formula became a controversial pivot of contemporary thought. Drawing on interviews with thought leaders around the globe, it's the story of a group of intellectual mavericks who are challenging what we thought we knew about our place in the universe. The Doomsday Calculation is compelling reading for anyone interested in our culture and its future
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Edition
First Edition.
Extent
x, 306 pages
Isbn
9780316440707
Instance
Label
The doomsday calculation : how an equation that predicts the future is transforming everything we know about life and the universe
Title
The doomsday calculation
Title remainder
how an equation that predicts the future is transforming everything we know about life and the universe
Statement of responsibility
William Poundstone
Title variation
How an equation that predicts the future is transforming everything we know about life and the universe
Creator
Author
Subject
Language
eng
Summary
In the 18th century, the British minister and mathematician Thomas Bayes devised a theorem that allowed him to assign probabilities to events that had never happened before. It languished in obscurity for centuries until computers came along and made it easy to crunch the numbers. Now, as the foundation of big data, Bayes' formula has become a linchpin of the digital economy. But here's where things get really interesting: Bayes' theorem can also be used to lay odds on the existence of extraterrestrial intelligence; on whether we live in a Matrix-like counterfeit of reality; on the "many worlds" interpretation of quantum theory being correct; and on the biggest question of all: how long will humanity survive? The Doomsday Calculation tells how Silicon Valley's profitable formula became a controversial pivot of contemporary thought. Drawing on interviews with thought leaders around the globe, it's the story of a group of intellectual mavericks who are challenging what we thought we knew about our place in the universe. The Doomsday Calculation is compelling reading for anyone interested in our culture and its future
Tone
Writing style
http://library.link/vocab/ext/novelist/bookUI
10783753
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Poundstone, William
Dewey number
150.1/5195
Illustrations
  • illustrations
  • charts
Index
index present
LC call number
BF39.2.B39
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
http://library.link/vocab/resourcePreferred
True
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Bayesian statistical decision theory
  • Probabilities
  • Forecasting
Target audience
adult
http://bibfra.me/vocab/lite/titleRemainder
how an equation that predicts the future is transforming everything we know about life and the universe
Label
The doomsday calculation : how an equation that predicts the future is transforming everything we know about life and the universe, William Poundstone
Instantiates
Publication
Copyright
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-295) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Dimensions
25 cm
Edition
First Edition.
Extent
x, 306 pages
Isbn
9780316440707
Lccn
bl2019014194
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations, charts
Label
The doomsday calculation : how an equation that predicts the future is transforming everything we know about life and the universe, William Poundstone
Publication
Copyright
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references (pages 265-295) and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Dimensions
25 cm
Edition
First Edition.
Extent
x, 306 pages
Isbn
9780316440707
Lccn
bl2019014194
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations, charts

Subject

Library Locations

    • Brookhaven Free LibraryBorrow it
      273 Beaver Dam Road, Brookhaven, NY, 11719, US
      40.774003 -72.911968
    • Cold Spring Harbor LibraryBorrow it
      95 Harbor Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 11724, US
      40.866179 -73.460626
    • Comsewogue Public LibraryBorrow it
      170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station, NY, 11776, US
      40.923668 -73.053316
    • Emma S. Clark Memorial LibraryBorrow it
      120 Main Street, Setauket, NY, 11733, US
      40.944931 -73.11193
    • East Islip Public LibraryBorrow it
      381 E Main Street, 381 East Main Street, NY, 11730, US
      40.735575 -73.173381
    • Huntington Public LibraryBorrow it
      338 Main Street, Huntington, NY, 11743, US
      40.87052 -73.430023
    • Islip Public LibraryBorrow it
      71 Monell Avenue, Islip, NY, 11751, US
      40.724399 -73.2139704002983
    • Lindenhurst Memorial LibraryBorrow it
      1 Lee Ave, Lindenhurst, NY, 11757, US
      40.68248 -73.36768
    • Sachem Public LibraryBorrow it
      150 Holbrook Rd, Holbrook, NY, 11741, US
      40.823146 -73.080982
    • South Huntington Public LibraryBorrow it
      145 Pidgeon Hill Road, Huntington Station, NY, 11746, US
      40.822565 -73.391343
    • Smithtown Library - Nesconset BranchBorrow it
      148 Smithtown Blvd, Nesconset, NY, 11767, US
      40.83668 -73.15932

Library Links

Structured data from the Bibframe namespace is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License by Public Libraries of Suffolk County, New York. Additional terms may apply to data associated with third party namespaces.