Out of Control (Kelly book)
Out of Control: The New Biology of Machines, Social Systems, and the Economic World is a 1992 book by Kevin Kelly. It argues that intelligence and order come from many simple parts working together, like a beehive, rather than from one central brain. This idea applies to machines, organizations, and the human brain, and it explores themes such as cybernetics, emergence, self-organization, complex systems, negentropy, and chaos theory. The book has a techno-utopian vibe and is often described as a mind-expanding look at the New Economy. It wasn’t widely reviewed when it first appeared, but it later gained attention and is frequently cited; critics praised its bold vision while some argued it downplays politics and social power.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 11:42 (CET).