The King of Infinite Space: Euclid and His Elements
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.75 (687 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 046501481X |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 192 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2014-11-19 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
In writing at once geometrically precise and disarmingly conversational, Berlinski explores the imposing edifice that Euclid erected on a foundation of just five deceptively simple axioms. Readers thus come to realize how Euclid’s pioneering thought made possible the rigor of a mathematical proof—and the discipline of a mathematical life. Even in the revolutionary modern theorizing of non-Euclidian geometers such as Lobachevsky, Bolyai, and Poincaré, readers will discern Euclid’s abiding influence as a visionary who glimpsed the mathematical u
A Difficult but Rewarding Book Arash Farzaneh If you are already familiar with Euclid's work or if you really like math and geometry, then this book will be delightful and delicious. For those, who like me, shy away from math, it is a rather arduous process. And do not be fooled by the length of the book; there is a lot of condensed thought and reflection that have gone into it.I cannot say that I fully enjoyed this book, nor would I say that I disliked it. In fact, it made me think, and it awoke my curiosity not only for Euclid, the man and the work, but also for the field of geometry itself and that is quite a feat!Even if you do not lik. Mark Twain said Who knew reading about geometry could be so riveting. As a fan of David Berlinski's Devil's Delusion, I found myself drawn to dip into this fascinating book om Euclid. I was rewarded with Berlinski's clarity and wit, his elegant writing style. He converted me to a newfound interest in mathematics. Anyone would pick this book up with pleasure and leave it with regret. Mary Karr. GM said Very interesting book; not for the total novice. This is not the book to learn Euclidean Geometry. It requires some basic knowledge of Mathematics; it is not a fast read. It is a good discussion of some of the assumptions and limitations of Euclidean Geometry. One of the points it makes is to show how, for all the reputation for being a logically rigorous system in which all assumptions are defined and justified; Euclidean Geometry includes a good dose of plain "common sense" and "self-evident truths" baked into its foundations. The book also moves on to discussing other geometries, of which one gets a flavor, but not much more. The style is
Berlinski shows that, for centuries, scientists and thinkers from Copernicus to Newton to Einstein have relied on Euclid’s axiomatic system, a method of proof still taught in classrooms around the world. Euclid’s use of elemental logic—and the mathematical statements he and others built from it—have dramatically expanded the frontiers of human knowledge.The King of Infinite Space presents a rich, accessible treatment of Euclid and his beautifully simple geometric system, which continues t