Flatterland: Like Flatland, Only More So
by Ian Stewart
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Book Summary Information
Author: Ian StewartEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2002-04
ISBN: 073820675X
Number of pages: 320
Publisher: Basic Books
Book Reviews of Flatterland: Like Flatland, Only More So
Book Review: A sequel just as good as the original
Summary: 5 Stars
If imitation is the sincerest form of flatterly, that expertly executed imitation must certainly be the most...flattering.
In this way, excellent flattery is what this book both promises and delivers in a big way.
After having read the Edwin Abbott Abbott book Flatland in 1962, ideas germinated in Ian Stewart's head for three decades before he took pen in hand and created, Flatterland...a sequel just as good as the original.
For those who don't know, Flatland is the 1884 story of square living in a flat society, Flatland, who comes to learn about higher dimensions, with his friend the sphere.
Set one hundred years later, Flatterland picks up the story with Victoria the line segment, Mr. Square's grand daughter, who re-visits high dimensions given modern understanding of what those higher dimensions are.
And even though some discussions contain pretty academic mathematical theory, on the whole, the book manages that unique accessibility and magic that comes when true understanding is combined with a great ability to communicate.
If all Stewart managed was to create a modern tour of physics and math touching on such diverse topics as how the universe came to be, whether we really do live in a "uni"verse,contemporary M brane theory, string theory and how other dimensions relate to all these issues, the book would merit five stars.
However, and to Stewart's credit, the book actually also touches on higher dimensions as a metaphor for overturning two dimensional ways of looking at things...just like the original. If Abbott was around to read this book one can't help but think that he and Mr. Square would be very pleased indeed.
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