Scale

A startlingly original 'theory of everything' that invites us to rethink our understanding of the connections between human civilization and the laws of nature.

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Geoffrey West's research centres on a quest to find unifying principles and patterns connecting everything, from cells and ecosystems to cities, social networks and businesses.

'The sort of big-ideas book that comes along only every few years' Sunday Times

'Magisterial . . . you reach the end of this profound, revealing book rewarded' Matthew Syed, The Times

'This book will expand your thinking from three dimensions to four' Nassim Nicholas Taleb

'Scale is a firework display of popular science' Niall Ferguson

By applying the rigour of physics to questions of biology, Geoffrey West found that despite the riotous diversity in the sizes of mammals, they are all, to a large degree, scaled versions of each other. This speaks to everything from how long we can expect to live to how many hours of sleep we need. He then made the even bolder move of exploring his work's applicability to cities and to the business world. These investigations have led to powerful insights into the sustainability of cities and why some companies thrive while others fail.

Scale is a thrilling scientific adventure story about the elemental natural laws that bind us together in profound ways. Through the brilliant mind of Geoffrey West, we can envision how cities, companies and biological life alike are dancing to the same simple tune, however diverse and unrelated they may seem.