Agent-Based Models (Quantitative Applications in the Social Sciences)

The aim of this book is to be some sort of a very quick introduction of agent based models to social scientists. Please be advice that this is exactly what he does, very concise in text and lacking examples and information. This book is definitely not what one comes to expect when looking for a textbook.Shortly stated, agent based models is an emerging methodology that allows us to explore complex system that are to hard to define and explore analytically. As such, the idea is to define many simple entities (agents) with simple behavioral rules, put them in a multiagent environment that is also governed by simple rules, and watch as their local interactions cause the emergent of some global impact on the overall system (such as the emergent of some equilibrium point). The author, Nigel Gilber, is a well respected researchers in that field with profound contribution over the years.The main problem is that this 'book' is basically a quite straightforward "introduction" paper that one can often find with simple search on the internet. It seems that the book is an in essence an extension of such paper. In terms of content, there are 20 pages on the introduction (what are agent-based models), which is an important read to newcomers. Then 10 pages of different parameters that people use in their experimental environments, and 16 pages on ways of using agent based models for social science research. This is basically the book. There are also another 22 pages on describing some programming environment, named NetLogo, but that information is widely available on the Internet, alongside many other free development environments that are often better (e.g. Ascape) with better online manuals.This booklet is overly pricy, very shallow in content, examples and references as one would expect from a textbook (even in an introductory one). In addition, the book is very short and thin, and with a very cheap printing and cover. It is definitely not worth the requested price, and will be needed to complement with another book on the topic (e.g. an excellent textbook on the topic named "Complex Adaptive Systems").

I've recently been on a reading spree in the area of agent based models and have spent a lot of time reading hefty tomes on the topic. This unassuming little book was initially (ie when i first opened my package) a bit of a dissapointment. What could it offer compared to the much heavier (in grams) books that accompanied it? Fifty pages in, I was amazed at the way this book said more with less. It could be that the earlier reading meant that I did not need the gaps to be filled so i got more out of it, but I don't think so. I believe that Mr Gilbert knows the subject back to front, and I would suggest to anyone exploring the agent based modelling topic to buy this book, read it, then go to the website for the journal of artificial societies and social simulation (having expected a big subscription free, I was delighted to discover that this is a free web based journal) for more detail.

Agent-Based Models (ABM) is a very good introduction to Agent based modeling. The author covers most of the details to take into account when you want to use this modeling approach. The author also introduce the readers to the most popular tools (NetLogo, Repast, Mason) and displays and explain in details some pieces of code in order to illustrate the central concepts. In my opinion, however there is a lack in the details of implementation, execution and fitting for this kind of models. The reader will also need more details in order to write an ABM by him/herself. In summary it is a good introduction to the subject, but more details could be added.

A clear and concise introduction to Agent Based Models. Mindful of his target audience, the author covers the basic topics at a level that will encourage the curious reader to delve deeper.

"Agent-Based Models" is a great starting point for helping a computer scientist to collaborate with colleagues in the social or natural sciences where an agent-based model might be appropriate. Nigel Gilbert has written other books on the subject of agent-based modeling, but this small text is a great kick-start for understanding the kinds of questions you can ask (and data you can collect) from agent-based simulations of systems that interest you.

This is a great meltdown of ABMS in 100 pages or so. I think that this is the best overview of ABMS that has been written.

This book gives a brief introduction to agent based modeling. It'd is suitable for anyone with no prior knowledge about the topic. There are enough example models to understand the technique.

No beating around the bush. This little book just gives you the essentials in very clear prose. Good theory as well as good examples. We are adopting it for coursework with students of varied backgrounds.

The book is a real good introduction to agent-based modeling, it starts describing each component of an ABM, the pro and cons of this methodology and provides also the code for replicate each model on NetLogo.