Episode · Stuff You Should Know · 2026-06-19

Books mentioned on The Stuff You Should Know Doin’ Science Playlist: How Chaos Theory Changed the Universe

1 book · Listen · Watch on YouTube

Since the age of Descartes, science has put all of its eggs in the basket of determinism, the idea that with accurate enough measurements any aspect of the universe could be predicted. But the universe, it turns out, is not so tidy.

Josh Clark discussed Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton.

Books mentioned, in the order they came up

We earn a commission if you buy through the store links below, at no cost to you.

1. 

   Jurassic Park

   Michael Crichton · at 3:00

   Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton is a sci-fi thriller novel about a theme park populated by genetically resurrected dinosaurs.

   Discussed

   “The book came out in 1990. And in the book, Ian Malcolm, who's a chaotician. Yeah, a creep chaotician. Right. He um He goes into even more depth about chaos theory.”

   Josh Clark The Stuff You Should Know Doin’ Science Playlist: How Chaos Theory Cha… 2026-06-19 Listen at 3:00

   Where to get it

   AmazonListen on Audible