How has the universe created such complex structures as galaxies, planets, plants, animals and brains? Why does the economy work in unpredictable ways which cannot even be explained by economists? How can we account for such wonderfully intricate structures as the eye and kidney? This important and highly readable book shows how in all of these examples complex mechanisms are at work, in which numerous independent agents interact with each other creating spontaneous self-organization within the system, a special dynamism emerging of hte edge of chaos.