The Book of Why by Judea Pearl - Paperback
What if understanding why something happens could reshape the future of science and artificial intelligence? In this groundbreaking work, Turing Award-winning computer scientist and statistician Judea Pearl takes you on a revolutionary journey into the world of causality—the study of cause and effect.
For over a century, scientists have clung to the mantra, "Correlation is not causation," avoiding causal questions like a forbidden fruit. But Pearl and his colleagues have broken this taboo, igniting the causal revolution. With clarity and insight, Pearl demonstrates how his work has laid a solid scientific foundation for answering both simple puzzles—like determining if rain or a sprinkler wet the sidewalk—and complex mysteries, such as whether a medical treatment truly cured an illness.
More than just identifying what causes what, Pearl’s methods reveal a new dimension: the worlds that could have been. This powerful framework is not only the essence of human reasoning but also the next frontier for artificial intelligence.
Whether you're curious about the inner workings of science or the future of AI, The Book of Why is your essential guide to understanding the hidden forces that shape our world—and the possibilities that lie beyond.
Author Profile
Judea Pearl is a professor of computer science at UCLA. The author of three books, he has won numerous awards, including the Alan Turing Award. He lives in Los Angeles, California.
Dana Mackenzie is a PhD mathematician turned science writer and has written for Science, New Scientist, and Scientific American, among others. He lives in Santa Cruz, California.Critic Reviews
“"The Book of Why ... questions and redefines the building blocks of our AI systems"-- theverge.com”
One of Science Friday's "Best Science Books of 2018"
"The Book of Why ... questions and redefines the building blocks of our AI systems"--theverge.com
"'Correlation is not causation.' That scientific refrain has had social consequences...Judea Pearl proposes a radical mathematical solution...now bearing fruit in biology, medicine, social science and AI."--Nature
"Anyone interested in probing connections between cause and effect, and their relevance for the future of AI, will find this a fascinating and provocative book. Highly recommended."--CHOICE
"Cause and effect is one of the most heavily debated, difficult-to-prove things in science and medicine. This book really gets you thinking about cause and effect as it applies to issues of our time, such as: How come cigarettes were around for years and we never showed they were causing cancer or heart disease? The authors goes through these cases like an interrogation, and it's just extraordinary."--Science Friday
"Have you ever wondered about the puzzles of correlation and causation? This wonderful book has illuminating answers and it is fun to read."--Daniel Kahneman, winner of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences and author of Thinking, Fast and Slow
"If causation is not correlation, then what is it? Thanks to Judea Pearl's epoch-making research, we now have a precise answer to this question. If you want to understand how the world works, this engrossing and delightful book is the place to start."--Pedro Domingos, professor of computer science, University of Washington, and author of The Master Algorithm
"Illuminating... The Professor Pearl who emerges from the pages of The Book of Why brims with the joy of discovery and pride in his students and colleagues... [it] not only delivers a valuable lesson on the history of ideas but provides the conceptual tools needed to judge just what big data can and cannot deliver."--New York Times
"Judea Pearl has been the heart and soul of a revolution in artificial intelligence and in computer science more broadly."--Eric Horvitz, Technical Fellow and Director, Microsoft Research Labs
"Judea Pearl is on a mission to change the way we interpret data. An eminent professor of computer science, Pearl has documented his research and opinions in scholarly books and papers. ... With the release of this historically grounded and thought-provoking book, Pearl leaps from the ivory tower into the real world...Pearl has given us an elegant, powerful, controversial theory of causality."--American Mathematical Society
"Lively and accessible...Pearl was one of the visionary leaders of the causal revolution, and The Book of Why is his crowning achievement."--Jewish Journal
"Pearl's accomplishments over the last 30 years have provided the theoretical basis for progress in artificial intelligence... and they have redefined the term 'thinking machine.'"--Vint Cerf, Chief Internet Evangelist, Google, Inc.
"Seriously, everyone should read The Book of Why."--Jeff Witmer, American Mathematical MonthlyProduct Details
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