How do mathematical models shape our world – and how can we harness their power for good?

This is the focus of Dr Erica Thompson's new book Escape from Model Land. Drawing on contemporary examples from finance, climate and health policy, Erica explores what models are, why we need them, how they work and what happens when they go wrong.

Find out more about the book here.

Recent reviews

Two new books explore the upside of big data and AI

The Economist

Escape From Model Land’ Review: Seduced by Numbers

David A. Shaywitz in The Wall Street Journal

How mathematical models can lead us astray, and what we can do about it

Nick Smith in Engineering and Technology

A blueprint for critical thinking

Georgia Meyer for the LSE Data Science Institute

Escape from Model Land by Erica Thompson review – the power and pitfalls of prediction

Felix Martin in The Guardian

Escape from Model Land, by Erica Thompson

Jeremy Williams in The Earthbound Report

What links lockdowns, Brexit and climate change? Models – and we can’t escape them

Andrew Lilico in The Telegraph

The limitations of mathematical modeling

Mike Jakeman in strategy+business