Thanks for making the recommendation for CBofN (I am the author). I should also add that the naming of my book was clearly inspired by ABofP (or ripped-off, depending on your point of view). ABofP was a real inspiration to me.

I really loved CBoN -- it really is a very good book. I felt like each chapter was approachable enough that I could just casually read it and felt like I "got it", but when I sat down with pencil and paper and worked through it I gained a real appreciation for each section.

Thanks. That was an explicit goal of mine, so I am glad that it worked out that way for you.

Great book BTW! Is the Kindle version new? I ask because I could swear I went looking for this a year or so ago before moving and ended up having my copy scanned and pulped so that I could take it with me.

Thanks so much! Here's the funny thing ... I had no idea there was a kindle version until just now (your comment prompted me to go look). I am pretty sure that it's new because -- while I don't follow the sales closely -- I also like to look at the breakdown of sales every year and I can't recall there ever being a kindle or digital category. So, yes, that's my guess.

I am going to go buy a copy now just, well, because I can.

So, since you have purchased can you tell me if this is a decent conversion to azw3? I prefer epub/azw3 over pdf since it reflows well on a smaller device (yes, some images/charts will never work on a smaller screen) and would probably buy another copy if it turns out to actually be good version rather than some topaz scan packaged up as a kindle version...

Hello Jordan,

have you read that book and would you recommend it over "The Fractal Geometry of Nature by Benoit Mandelbrot (1982) [1]?

I'm asking because I bought the latter and would like to know if this book provides more recent information on the topic.

Thank you.

--

[1] http://www.amazon.com/Fractal-Geometry-Nature-Benoit-Mandelb...

I have not read Mandelbrot's book (yet!), so I can't really compare it.

I don't know what sort of depth you're looking for, but I'd call CBoN a "medium"-depth book on the subjects involved. It's possible to read it like a pop-science book and still appreciate it, but you can actually sit down with pencil and paper (or write some code) and gain a pretty good level of insight. You're not going to necessarily gain a complete understanding of all the underlying math, though, just by reading this book.

Anyway, it's a pretty darn good use of $40, IMO. Buy it!

The Mandelbrot book was the first one on the topic (published in 1983, revised from books published in 1975 and 1977), and is the least likely to have 'recent information on the topic'. It's also not as readable as some of the others, but it's certainly a classic (and deserving of a larger Wikipedia article than it currently has).