Calculating catastrophe

This is a book for a broad audience about facts and principles. The erudition and literacy of the author are amazing and an intellectual pleasure to read. — The European Mathematical Society “The European Mathematical Society”

Woo has a specialist audience in mind, but running through Calculating Catastrophe is a lesson for novice and initiate alike. This concerns how and why modern societies have such difficulty dealing with the biggest questions they face, from climate change and terrorism to financial crisis. The author whose business card for the modelling company RMS reads: ‘Dr Gordon Woo, Catastrophist’ underlines time and again the uncertainty that always remains in managing risk. — Financial Times “Financial Times”

Your excellent book will be a standard reference text in the coming years. — Prof Rohan Gunaratna “Head, International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore”

Gordon Woo’s book The Mathematics of Natural Catastrophes is a modern classic for anyone interested in risk analysis, securitization and emergency response. The publication of this timely update is very welcome, with a wider decision theoretic perspective being maintained throughout. This makes the book more accessible to and more timely for the people who need it most, those on the policy hot seats. — Prof Roger Cooke “Chauncey Starr Chair for Risk Analysis, Resources for the Future, Washington, DC”

It is absolutely crucial for our students. — Prof Christine Wamsler “Lund University, Sweden”

The book is very accessible – it can be read as light reading, focusing on the examples ? or as a deeper introduction to the issues, the mathemtics of the phenomena, and the methodologies which exist for coping with them. It is certainly a book which kept me gripped to the end. — David J Hand “Imperial College London, UK”

With his trademark gift for illustrating key concepts with colorful anecdotes, Dr. Woo has crafted a survey of catastrophe science that is both informative and a pleasure to read. — Prof George Zanjani “AAMGA Distinguished Chair in Risk Management and Insurance, Georgia State University”

It is absolutely excellent and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I am recommending it to everyone I see. — Sir John Beddington “Chief Scientific Adviser to HM Government and Head of the Government Office for Science, UK”