Randy Haupt and Sue Ellen Haupt, both affiliated with The Pennsylvania State University Applied Research Laboratory, emphasize practical applications rather than theory in this second edition of a book/CD- ROM guide for practicing scientists, engineers, economists, artists, and others interested in the basics of genetic algorithms (GAs). This edition contains code, in both MATLAB and High-Performance Fortran, on the CD-ROM, plus expanded information on methods for improving GA performance, and a new chapter on other artificial intelligence methods of optimization such as simulated annealing and ant colony optimization. Chapter exercises allow the book to be used as a text. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)