Does complexity have to be be so complicated?

I am sure that the understanding of complexity slowly forming in my mind is an analogy for the concept itself.  As my chaotic mind struggles to reconcile ideas, too many and too diverse to catalogue or organise, a larger, more coherent yet still far from complete picture starts to emerge. 

I believe this is how Lesley Kuhn has approached this intriguing book, scattering examples, explanations and overviews throughout.  It is impossible to know which tiny piece (perhaps I should say, fractal) of jigsaw will bring a transforming clarity to the chaos.  Indeed, a jigsaw might be as good a way as a book for communicating these ideas.  Come to think of it, that's maybe what she's done. 

This book introduced me to some new terminology for the subject, including: 'phrase space ', 'communicative connectedness' and 'fitness landscape'.  My understanding of 'fractals', 'self-organisation' and 'dynamism' were enhanced with some intriguing and diverse examples although 'emergence' remains a tricky one to grasp. 

Lesley says she is writing for readers like me who "work for, in and with organisations" although I fear I find myself in her remedial class.  I barely managed a page without having to read a passage several times and once, I turned two pages and was half way through the next one before I realised. 

There are important ideas in complexity which need to be more widely understood.  Mystery and confusion are bound to arise when trying to make visible a new paradigm.  Lesley's intention was a middle path between the excessively theoretical and the superficially popular and faddish.   Unfortunately she over-estimates my capacity.  She has some way to go before I will find her 'grossly disrespectful' and a long way before the managers I work with will find her very readable at all.