Agent-Based and Individual-Based Modeling: A Practical Introduction by Steven F. Railsback and Volker Grimm

When you see students confronted with Agent-Based Modelling (ABM) for the first time, you see people challenged but also excited by the idea of ‘playing’ with a social phenomenon – or at least a simpler version of it – while they see it running in a computer. They immediately get the idea of ABMs as magnifying glasses that help them to see the macro-micro-macro link in action. We train students to develop their theories from observation and imagination, by looking at statistics to receive some support. ABMs play a central role here, as they “aid intuition” (Axelrod 1997). Indeed, their ultimate goal is to help scholars developing better theories. However, ABMs require extensive effort in that it means to learn using a computer very differently than usual. For instance, a beginner must learn how to program, how to debug his/her code and how to validate his/her results. It is a much more advanced knowledge compared to what is required to run a statistical package. Unfortunately, social sciences training courses at different levels, e.g., under and post graduate, generally do not offer any chance to learn this. Railsback and Grimm’s book aims to fil this gap. Indeed, the book offers a comprehensive course on agent- and individual-based modelling for students and practitioners. The result is brilliant and excellent. It is brilliant because the learning experience includes a good balance between theory and practical implementation using NetLogo. It is excellent because each topic is looked at very clearly and comprehensively. Furthermore, the book also offers valuable sources for readers interested to have more detail on a specific subject of interest.