Books like The Nature of Mathematical Modeling by Neil Gershenfeld

The new and enlarged edition of this popular book gives detailed instructions for making a wide variety of models illustrating elementary mathematics. Nothing of value in the first edition has been omitted: dissections, paper-folding, curve-stitching, the drawing of loci and envelopes, the construction of plane tesselations, polyhedra, and ruled surfaces are all included. Complete plans and nets are given for all regular, Archimedean, and stellated polyhedra, together with compound solids of various kinds. The section of machines has been considerably enlarged, and now includes details of simple electric adding devices and analogue computers. There is also a completely new chapter on logical devices. Linkages and pendulum machines for drawing lines and curves are described, and the book is fully illustrated with diagrams and plates of models in paper and cardboard, wood and 'perspex' plastic. All the models have first been successfully made in school classes or for demonstration before being used as illustrations in this intriguing and very useful book. -- from dust jacket.

All aboard The Coding Train! This beginner-friendly creative coding tutorial is designed to grow your skills in a fun, hands-on way as you build simulations of real-world phenomena with “The Coding Train” YouTube star Daniel Shiffman. What if you could re-create the awe-inspiring flocking patterns of birds or the hypnotic dance of fireflies—with code? For over a decade, The Nature of Code has empowered countless readers to do just that, bridging the gap between creative expression and programming. This innovative guide by Daniel Shiffman, creator of the beloved Coding Train, welcomes budding and seasoned programmers alike into a world where code meets playful creativity. This JavaScript-based edition of Shiffman’s groundbreaking work gently unfolds the mysteries of the natural world, turning complex topics like genetic algorithms, physics-based simulations, and neural networks into accessible and visually stunning creations.

Gary William Flake explores how simple, recurrent rules in computational systems generate rich, complex behaviors and explains their role in phenomena like fractals, chaos, complex systems, and adaptation.