Signals

Brian Skyrms presents a fascinating exploration of how fundamental signals are to our world. He uses a variety of tools -- theories of signaling games, information, evolution, and learning -- to investigate how meaning and communication develop. He shows how signaling games themselves evolve, and introduces a new model of learning with invention. The juxtaposition of atomic signals leads to complex signals, as the natural product of gradual process. Signals operate in networks of senders and receivers at all levels of life. Information is transmitted, but it is also processed in various ways. That is how we think -- signals run around a very complicated signaling network. Signaling is a key ingredient in the evolution of teamwork, in the human but also in the animal world, even in micro-organisms. Communication and co-ordination of action are different aspects of the flow of information, and are both effected by signals.

Brian Skyrms presents a fascinating exploration of how fundamental signals are to our world. He uses a variety of tools -- theories of signaling games, information, evolution, and learning -- to investigate how meaning and communication develop. He shows how signaling games themselves evolve, and introduces a new model of learning with invention. The juxtaposition of atomic signals leads to complex signals, as the natural product of gradual process. Signals operate in networks of senders and receivers at all levels of life. Information is transmitted, but it is also processed in various ways. That is how we think -- signals run around a very complicated signaling network. Signaling is a key ingredient in the evolution of teamwork, in the human but also in the animal world, even in micro-organisms. Communication and co-ordination of action are different aspects of the flow of information, and are both effected by signals.

"An utterly fascinating guide to who you are and how youwork. Saira Hameed reveals the endocrine system, and places it at the center ofself-knowledge; a system of control, but also a set of signals we can learn tointerpret." --Chris van Tulleken, author of Ultra-Processed People In the tradition of Atul Gawande and Henry Marsh, aphysician writer's expert examination of the extraordinary power of hormonesand the miraculous story of the life force signals that make us. Hormones write life's masterplan - building a new humanbeing in utero, transforming a helpless newborn into a sturdy toddler, ignitingthe firestorm of puberty, conjuring the alchemy of fertilization and directingthe transition into menopause and beyond. And all the while, day-to-day, minute-by-minute, hormonescontrol our mood and stress levels, how hungry we feel and how much we weigh, changes in libido and blood sugar, the circadian rhythm of our energy balanceand sleep-wake cycle. In Signals , Dr. Saira Hameed takes us on ajourney through the endocrine system, the body's miraculous and oftenmisunderstood communication network of endocrine glands and hormone signals. Webarely notice these internal signals efficiently carrying messages from cell tocell because the power of hormones over our brains and bodies is so fundamentalthat their omnipotent control is simply felt as life itself.Yet when the body's signaling system breaks, we see with hindsight that be'hormonal' is in fact to be human. Here Dr. Hameed combines expert experience, revelatoryscience, medical history, and cultural commentary with compellingcompassionately recounted patient cases. In this special confluence ofstorytelling Dr. Hameed invites readers to share in the mysterious, magicalinner world of the endocrine system, going beyond hormone hacks and hype totune out the noise and instead listen into the signals - to the powerfulendocrine life force of how the body talks to itself. Category Defining Book: Hormones are in the zeitgeistand Signals provides answers about what they can and can't control. Understand Your Own Body: Expert-authored analysisbased in science that leaves readers with a greater appreciation for how theendocrine system works and affects our lives. Gripping Medical Cases: Real stories of Dr. Hameed'spuzzling medical cases that provide a peak behind the curtain as to how doctorswork.

"An utterly fascinating guide to who you are and how youwork. Saira Hameed reveals the endocrine system, and places it at the center ofself-knowledge; a system of control, but also a set of signals we can learn tointerpret." --Chris van Tulleken, author of Ultra-Processed People In the tradition of Atul Gawande and Henry Marsh, aphysician writer's expert examination of the extraordinary power of hormonesand the miraculous story of the life force signals that make us. Hormones write life's masterplan - building a new humanbeing in utero, transforming a helpless newborn into a sturdy toddler, ignitingthe firestorm of puberty, conjuring the alchemy of fertilization and directingthe transition into menopause and beyond. And all the while, day-to-day, minute-by-minute, hormonescontrol our mood and stress levels, how hungry we feel and how much we weigh, changes in libido and blood sugar, the circadian rhythm of our energy balanceand sleep-wake cycle. In Signals , Dr. Saira Hameed takes us on ajourney through the endocrine system, the body's miraculous and oftenmisunderstood communication network of endocrine glands and hormone signals. Webarely notice these internal signals efficiently carrying messages from cell tocell because the power of hormones over our brains and bodies is so fundamentalthat their omnipotent control is simply felt as life itself.Yet when the body's signaling system breaks, we see with hindsight that be'hormonal' is in fact to be human. Here Dr. Hameed combines expert experience, revelatoryscience, medical history, and cultural commentary with compellingcompassionately recounted patient cases. In this special confluence ofstorytelling Dr. Hameed invites readers to share in the mysterious, magicalinner world of the endocrine system, going beyond hormone hacks and hype totune out the noise and instead listen into the signals - to the powerfulendocrine life force of how the body talks to itself. Category Defining Book: Hormones are in the zeitgeistand Signals provides answers about what they can and can't control. Understand Your Own Body: Expert-authored analysisbased in science that leaves readers with a greater appreciation for how theendocrine system works and affects our lives. Gripping Medical Cases: Real stories of Dr. Hameed'spuzzling medical cases that provide a peak behind the curtain as to how doctorswork.