Michael S. Schneider

I guess it's the geek in me that can love a book about geometry, though to be fair this is pop geometry, and the language and concepts are so simple that most anyone could understand it. It's stuffed full of fascinating examples of numbers and geometry in the world and in our language, although you have to bear in mind that 'our language' here is basically English, so it might be fair to say that the author often twists things to suit his argument (there's also no bibliography in my copy, show more which makes me skeptical of some bits).

If you want to read about why manhole covers are round, why two never used to be considered a number, and how to draw a pentagon (among other things), I really recommend this book. It would be a great sourcebook for maths teachers and textbook writers, too. show less

This book is like a biography of the numbers 1 to 10; it's a look at how each of the numbers manifests itself in nature; how culture and mysticism have evolved around and from geometry. It's absolutely wonderful -- so much knowledge presented in such an accessible way. Lots of food for thought, some trivial pursuits, all leading to a greater appreciation for our world.

This eye halvah for the mind makes a fine and instructive gift for the brightest girl or boy in your family tree -or for most any budding artist, mathematician, or mythologist. They'd doubtless graduate to Pickover's "The Loom of God" eventually. Marvelous and encouraging.

So COOL!