According to the Wikipedia page on the author [1], <i>&quot;[Ashby&#x27;s] two books, Design for a Brain and An Introduction to Cybernetics, were landmark works. They introduced exact and logical thinking into the nascent discipline and were highly influential.&quot;</i> [1] states that Ashby&#x27;s work influenced Stafford Beer and Gregory Chaitin.<p>Going back to a discipline&#x27;s foundational works can be a good way to gain context and understanding.<p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;William_Ross_Ashby" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;William_Ross_Ashby</a>