Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview: #1 The mysteries of ant colonies are a microcosm for the mysteries of many natural and social systems that we think of as complex. No one knows how any community of social organisms comes together to collectively build the elaborate structures that increase their survival probability. #2 The ant colony is a great example of a complex system. The ants in a colony, each performing their own relatively simple actions, work together to build astoundingly complex structures that are important for the survival of the colony as a whole. #3 The brain is a complex system made up of many different types of cells in addition to neurons. The actions of neurons and the patterns of connections among groups of neurons are what cause perception, thought, feelings, and consciousness. #4 The immune system is another example of a system that is extremely complex, but that works together in an effective and efficient manner without any central control. The star players of the immune system are white blood cells, otherwise known as lymphocytes

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