Tewksbury Public Library

Escape from model land, how mathematical models can lead us astray and what we can do about it, Erica Thompson

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 229-235) and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Escape from model land

bibliography

1343153857

Erica Thompson

how mathematical models can lead us astray and what we can do about it

Whether we are worried about the spread of COVID-19 or making a corporate budget, we depend on mathematical models to help us understand the world around us every day. But models aren't a mirror of reality. In fact, they are fantasies, where everything works out perfectly, every time. And relying on them too heavily can hurt us. In Escape from Model Land, statistician Erica Thompson illuminates the hidden dangers of models. She demonstrates how models reflect the biases, perspectives, and expectations of their creators. Thompson shows us why understanding the limits of models is vital to using them well. A deeper meditation on the role of mathematics, this is an essential book for helping us avoid either confusing the map with the territory or throwing away the map completely, instead pointing to more nuanced ways to Escape from Model Land., Provided by publisher

Locating model land -- Thinking inside the box -- Models as metaphors -- The cat that looks most like a dog -- Fiction, prediction, and conviction -- The accountability gap -- Masters of the universe -- The atmosphere is complicated -- Totally under control -- Escaping from model land