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Title: A Beginner's Guide to Constructing the Universe: Mathematical Archetypes of Nature, Art, and Science by Michael S. Schneider ISBN: 0-06-092671-6 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 08 November, 1995 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.45 (31 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A fascinating trip through symbolic math
Comment: Who knew that our universe is such a spectacularly ordered place? Michael Schneider takes us on a fantastic voyage through the primary numbers one through ten, and shows us how numbers and geometry have helped shape our world and the cosmos. Why is a manhole cover round? Because a circle, whose diameter is everywhere equal, is the only shape that won't fall into its own hole. Three symbolizes harmony -- life has a beginning, a middle and an end. Life forms are often characterized by pentagons (cut an apple in half crosswise and look at the seeds), while six is the number of structure-function-order, as seen in the hexagonal symmetry of crystals and snowflakes. This book is by no means for math majors only; even math dummies like this reviewer will find themselves totally caught up. Art and design students especially will appreciate the almost infinite variety of possible designs suggested within each primary number and the basic shapes (circle, square and triangle). Schneider also shows how, with a compass, pencil and straightedge, one can construct one's own symbolic universe. I came away from this book not only enlightened on the subject of symbolic math, but blown away by the relationship between geometry and religion. Because reading this book makes one realize that the universe is not random, as we see it within our limited scope, but has a definite function and order, and perhaps only the God who created it according to His plan can see it whole.
Rating: 5
Summary: Why don't they teach this stuff in school?
Comment: I really did not like math when I was in school. What was the point? Manipulating a bunch of abstract concepts for the mere sake of doing the work. Why don't they teach this type of math in schools? Well anyway, I believe that you can not truly understand life, religion and the world around us without taking a long look at this beautiful knowledge that has been preserved for so many millenia. If you want to look into the mind of God, study the rules by which he organized the universe. And if you think that everything around you is chaos, read this book and look again. You will find that everything from the microscopic to universal aggregate is striving toward simple and beautiful geometric patterns. The author does a nice job of giving to the reader a piece of his deep understanding and love for this subject. This book is more of a textbook and is neatly organized. I highly recommend also getting a copy of Sacred Geometry: Philosophy and Practice by Robert Lawlor. It has lots of excercises to emerse the student in the beauty of geometric relationships. These two books go hand-in-hand. Lastly, I can not emphasize enough how much more understanding I gained about religion by learning geometry. Does that sound bizzare? I suppose, but it is true.
Rating: 2
Summary: few gems mixed in with otherwise useless rantings
Comment: Although Schneider clearly has a strong grasp of
"mathematics" (using his definition--meaning not just
number theory), he seems to want to paint us a fantastic
picture where none exists.
I was excited when I first opened this book, expecting
to read about all the fascinating parallels between
numbers and natural processes that occur in our universe.
Instead, I was disappointed to find mostly bombast,
mixed with a few gems of fascinating and useful information.
I had to read quickly through lengthy sections talking
about "cosmic" energies and how we (humans) are a miniature
of the cosmos or how great philosophers of the past had deep
knowledge of numbers that has since been forgotten--knowledge
that we all still have if he can just "remind" us.
Each chapter spends a little time talking about its designated
shape (chapter 3 is the triangle, chapter 5 is the pentagon,
etc) and how to construct the shape using only a compass and
unlined straight-edge. These parts are wonderful, fascinating,
and useful.
Then he goes on to show how the numer or shape can be found
in mythology, art, and life. A lot of it seems like a big
stretch--maybe if you squint your eyes and tilt your head you
MIGHT see how the painting is based on a triangle, or how the
grasshopper's dimensions are somewhat like the golden ratio
(1.618). To convince us, the author throws in a handful of
quotes on nearly every page, from scientists, philosophers,
mathematicians, and even the Bible. I think given enough
quotes and enough paintings, even I could make a case that
the paintings are based on any shape I come up with. It
doesn't mean anything though.
If you enjoy metaphysical discussions about mother earth
goddess energy, this book may appeal to you. If you don't
mind skipping over 3/4 of the book to extract the truly
interesting information, this book may appeal to you.
Otherwise, Amazon has some good books on geometry, several
good books on the Golden Ratio (phi is truly astonishing),
and you can find Euclid's geometric constructions at a number
of websites.
Remove all the blather and reduce this book from 350 pages
to about 100 pages, and I'd give it 4 stars. Otherwise,
I leave my rating at 2 stars.
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Title: Sacred Geometry: Philosophy and Practice by Robert Lawlor ISBN: 0500810303 Publisher: Thames & Hudson Pub. Date: April, 1989 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: Sacred Geometry by Miranda Lundy ISBN: 0802713823 Publisher: Walker & Co Pub. Date: April, 2001 List Price(USD): $10.00 |
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Title: The Geometry of Art and Life by Matila Ghyka ISBN: 0486235424 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 01 June, 1977 List Price(USD): $8.95 |
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Title: A Little Book of Coincidence by John Martineau ISBN: 0802713882 Publisher: Walker & Co Pub. Date: April, 2002 List Price(USD): $10.00 |
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Title: The Curves of Life by Theodore A. Cook ISBN: 048623701X Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 01 February, 1979 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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