This book is an English translation of the Japanese edition published in 1989. It contains contributions by 21 authors and consists of six chapters and an index. The chapter headings are as follows:

• Introduction to Fuzzy Systems

• Fuzzy Set Theory for Applications

• Applications in Industry

• Expert Systems

• Applications in Business

• Fuzzy Computers and Software

Chapter 1 states that fuzzy systems, by enabling the representation of macro knowledge and commonsense reasoning, will promote progress in artificial intelligence, which currently is mostly focused on the representation of micro knowledge and logical reasoning. This statement is supported by Zadeh, who states (in his foreword to Jamshidi et al. [1]) that “soft computing” (consisting of fuzzy  theory,  probabilistic reasoning, and neural networks) is destined to supersede “hard computing” (consisting of precise methodologies and logical reasoning) as the main methodology of artificial intelligence. Chapter 2 deals with crisp sets, crisp logic, fuzzy sets, fuzzy logic, and fuzzy reasoning. Chapter 3 describes the following industrial applications of fuzzy theory: blast furnace control, cold-rolling control, automotive speed control, rainwater pump management, automatic train operation, speech recognition, and image recognition. Chapter 4 covers expert systems, dealing with bus scheduling, evaluation of structural reliability, decision-making support, and medical diagnosis. Chapter 5 discusses the following business applications: modeling of large-scale systems, multiobjective evaluation and programming, and multiattribute decision making. Chapter 6 covers fuzzy hardware, including fuzzy building blocks (MAX and MIN circuits), fuzzy memory devices, fuzzy software, and fuzzy inference engines. Also discussed is the architecture of a fuzzy computer. The discussion of fuzzy software includes Fuzzy Prolog and the manipulation of fuzzy sets in LISP.

A list of references appears at the end of each chapter (except chapter 1). With the exception of chapter 2, which contains “Problems for Practice” in the last section (though solutions are not provided), the book does not contain  exercises. 

Terano points out the importance of fuzzy theory in his preface. He observes that fuzzy theory, by providing a mathematical analysis of natural language, makes information systems accessible to the layperson, and not just the computer expert. He further argues that societies in which information systems are accessible to everyone will inevitably surpass societies in which information systems are accessible only to computer experts.

The book covers applications of fuzzy theory that occurred after the publication of the Japanese edition of the editors’ previous book [2]. While this book is self-contained and may be read independently, it would be best to read it in conjunction with the other work [2].