Emeritus Professor John Mayfield’s “accomplishments as Professor of GDCB (and Zoology/Genetics) and as Associate Dean of the Graduate College are truly impressive,” notes GDCB Professor and Chair Jo Anne Powell-Coffman, and “he has recently added another to the list.  For the past ten years, he has been writing a book and it is now published.”

The title of his book is The Engine of Complexity, Evolution as Computation. According to Professor Mayfield, “the book explores the idea that if you treat evolution as a computation, a lot of things that otherwise seem mysterious, make sense. This perspective also creates a general theory of evolution that applies easily and naturally to situations other than biology. He continues that “the book is written for a non-technical audience, so you should not be intimidated by the non-biological nature of the content.  I like to think of it as a philosophy book though it is not specifically promoted that way.”

For those interested in purchasing the book, Professor Mayfield suggests the best place to obtain it is at the Columbia University Press web site. If you use the promo code ENGMAY you will receive a 30% discount. It is also available from Amazon and other major book sources. Professor Mayfield welcomes any comments or questions and said that “if you like it, please promote it with your friends.”

Dr. Mayfield is professor emeritus of genetics, development, and cell biology, having retired in the summer of 2011. If you wish to congratulate him on his new book, his e-mail is jemayff@gmail.com.