In Search of Certainty

Author preface to second edition

In preparing the second edition of the book, I have made as few changes as possible to the text. My goal is not to update or correct it, as much as to repair some deficiencies in the first attempt at explaining an intricate topic. I prefer that the book remain a cultural document, a child of its time, however naive that might prove to be in the long run.

Some obvious points failed to come through the text at first attempt, especially with regard to material structure of infrastructure in Chapter 12. For the sake of keeping the promise of the introduction, I was embarrassed enough to want to improve on that. The republication by O’Reilly seemed like the perfect opportunity to do that. Minor improvements have been made throughout, and substantial changes made to sharpen Chapter 12. I have also added a summary of points from each chapter at the end of the book, as a comprehension aid to all readers, and perhaps as a study aid for college students.

This book is an ambitious project, and there is a lot to swallow in its pages. However, like the books that were just a little beyond my reach (and hence inspired me to learn) as a teenager, I hope that this will be a book readers can revisit multiple times to discover new insights, over several years. No one can absorb the entirety of such a story in one sitting.

One interesting historical point seems worth noting. Following the release of the first edition, it was pointed out to me by Jeff Sussna how the writings ...