Every once in a while, an idea comes along that changes the way we all look at ourselves forever. Before Descartes, nobody knew they were thinking. They all believed they were just mulling.

Published posthumously, Order from Chaos, written by former Fay Fletcher Kerner Chair of the Department of Surgery Arnold G. Diethelm, M.D., traces the changes that led us to the UAB we know today.

The realms of chaos and order, seemingly opposite, are intrinsically intertwined and play pivotal roles in shaping our understanding of our reality. This dichotomy serves as the edges of swords ...