Product Description

Leads us on a journey through five revolutions in geometry, from the Greek concept of parallel lines to the notions of hyperspace. This title reveals how simple questions anyone might ask about space in the living room or in some other galaxy have been the hidden engine of science's highest achievements.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #44583 in Books
• Published on: 2003-02-27
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Features

• New
• Mint Condition
• Dispatch same day for order received before 12 noon
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• No quibbles returns

Amazon.co.uk Review
In his charming mathematical history, Euclid's Window Leonard Mlodinow asks "How do you know where you are?" This question and others about space and time grew out of simple observations of the environment by a select group of thinkers whose lives and brains Mlodinow dissects. Starting with Euclid geometry has flowed out over the centuries describing the universe and, Mlodinow argues, making modern civilization possible.

This is not just a history of geometry--it's a timeline of reason and abstraction, with all the major players present: Euclid, Descartes, Gauss, Einstein and Witten, each represented by a mini-biography.

Lots of examples pepper the narrative to help readers achieve their own "eureka!" And it's impossible not to be staggered at the mathematical feats of these geniuses, accomplished as many of them were in the absence of anything but observation and intense thought. Each story builds satisfactorily upon the last until at the end of this delightful book one has a sense of having climbed a peak of understanding.

A working knowledge of basic geometry is helpful but not essential for enjoying Euclid's Window, and Mlodinow's chatty style lends itself remarkably well to explaining these deep and revolutionary concepts. --Adam Fisher

About the Author
Leonard Mlodinow, PhD, was a member of the faculty of the Californian Institute of Technology before moving to Hollywoos to become a writer for televsion. He has developed many best seliing and award-winning CD-ROMs and is currently VIce President,Emerging Technologies and R&D at Scolastic Inc. He lives in New York City.

Customer Reviews

Through Euclid's Window Clearly
Fantastic. This is definitely one of the best lay science books I've had the pleasure of reading, and I read alot of scientific books. Clear, witty, down-to-earth, and written with a real understanding of how to present complex ideas in everyday language. Read this, and you can't help but learn and enjoy. You'll emerge the other end feeling you've bettered yourself and had a really pleasant time doing it. You'll read things that you want to tell everyone you know, because Mlodinow makes them so interesting.

Good introduction
Structured along the lines of the "big man-style of history" (i.e. Euclid,Descrates, Gauss, Einstein and Edward Witten) this book takes us from theGreeks to Superstring (M-Theory) of the present. The explanations arevery clear and the historical elements are interesting and concise.
In a book of this size it can only be an introduction, of course, but itvery readable and contains mathematical details, where justified.
I would recommend The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene as an excellentcontinuation to the later chapters on Superstring and M-Theory.

A funny, well written book about the history of geometry
This book describes the history of geometry as if it was the stuff of audacious adventurers and bold explorers. Very well written indeed for such a potentially boring subject. I even had trouble putting the book down...

In the first three chapters the author explains the Greek origin of Euclidian geometry and its unchallenged use throughout the Dark Ages, the improvements made by Descartes in the 17th century and the struggles of 19th century German mathematicians to improve its fundamental flaws that resulted in non-Euclidian geometry. The last two chapters explain Einstein's theory of relativity as well as the unifying theory of strings and touch upon the role non-Euclidian geometry plays in them.

The details of the characters involved and their motivations in developing geometry make this book fascinating. The humouristic style of writing and the often hilarious examples make this book really enjoyable to read as well. A recommendation for anyone interested in mathematics and/or history !