Perfect Order: Recognizing Complexity in Bali (Princeton Studies in Complexity)

The Perfect Order is a groundbreaking work that delves into the fascinating world of Bali's water temple networks, revealing the intricate and complex systems that have been in place for over a thousand years.

This book provides a comprehensive and captivating account of the history, ecology, and cosmology of these remarkable structures, shedding light on the intricate balance between competition and cooperation that underlies their functioning. With a focus on the delicate interplay between male descent groups and the feminine rites of water temples, The Perfect Order offers a unique perspective on the dynamics of small-scale irrigation systems and their role in maintaining the ecological integrity of rice terraces.

Through a series of fieldwork projects and multidisciplinary research, author Stephen Lansing reveals the fragility of these networks and the threats they face from large-scale development projects. Despite these challenges, The Perfect Order offers a powerful testament to the resilience and adaptability of Bali's water temple networks, highlighting their potential as a model for sustainable agriculture and environmental management.

With its winning combination of hard science and anthropological insights, this book is an essential read for anyone interested in understanding the complex relationships between humans and their environment.