What made the" Sopranos" finale one of the most-talked-about events in television history?
Why is sudoku so addictive and the iPhone so darnirr... read full description
Why is sudoku so addictive and the iPhone so darnirr... read full description
reviews
Dec 01, 2010
Justin
rated it: 
For those who already knew that less is more, but couldn't pinpoint exactly why. Anecdotes on a variety of topics from traffic to video rentals show how Daoist principles such as "wu-wei" (doing by non-doing) can be applied (or non-applied) to modern life. A fascinating Gladwell-esque companion to the Dao De Jing, Chuang Tzu, Book of Tea, Science of Happiness, etc.
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Nov 09, 2010
Arlington
rated it: 
A book about elegance should be elegant, right? I mostly just found this book to be very tidy. I haven't read any Malcolm Gladwell, but this author seems to be camping under similar stars. I read it in one sitting and liked it. My brain feels, if not reformatted, then carefully adjusted, like I went to the brain chiropractor.
He defines elegance as a quality that falls under four annoyingly alliterative words: symmetry, seduction, subtraction & sustainability. For the rest of the book More...
He defines elegance as a quality that falls under four annoyingly alliterative words: symmetry, seduction, subtraction & sustainability. For the rest of the book More...
May 12, 2009
Brian
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I loved “In Pursuit Of Elegance” by Matthew E. May. This book will provide a basis for a whole new kind of thinking. I can not think of an audience that would not benefit from reading this book because it can apply to business, art, home-life, and many other ventures.
One thing I found brilliant about the book is that it doesn’t offer specific steps to follow. This is not a “go and do” kind of book. What is NOT in the book is what makes this powerful (and elegant). May provides m More...
One thing I found brilliant about the book is that it doesn’t offer specific steps to follow. This is not a “go and do” kind of book. What is NOT in the book is what makes this powerful (and elegant). May provides m More...
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Nov 10, 2009
Erica
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This is a book -- like Omnivore's Dilemma -- that really makes me rethink and change the way I see things. May gives examples of elegance, and the power of it, and its roots in simplicity -- how leaving something out, or simplifying something and eliminating the endless barrage of information, can make it easier to communicate and function in the world. He focuses on four concepts: symmetry, seduction, subtraction and sustainability.
He makes a compelling argument about a busy traffic More...
He makes a compelling argument about a busy traffic More...
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Jun 02, 2009
Michelle
rated it: 
This was wide-ranging and very interesting, although I think it's possible that May has given some odd significance to events. For example, his use of the example of what happens at busy intersections if traffic signals and signs are eliminated, to me shows not "symmetry" but libertarianism. :-) But still, how can you not love a book that manages to tie together neuroscience, cycling, Jackson Pollock, traffic patterns, architecture, the iPhone, fractals and the Sopranos? Fun and in
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Jul 24, 2010
Maureen
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I checked out the audio form of this book from the library quite by chance, and was pleasantly surprised by the premise and breadth of material for his chosen topic. He talks about four key elements of elegance: seduction (appealing to the senses), subtraction (keeping to the minimum but still achieving effectiveness), symmetry (necessary for all beauty) and sustainability. I slipped it in on a recent long drive thinking I would just listen to "some of it" but it kept my interest arres
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Sep 12, 2010
Ninakix
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I found the beginning of this book a little painful to read, even though the stories and examples told were interesting. That's because the author talks about the "three S's" of elegance: symmetry, seduction, subtraction. This felt to me like a forced attempt to work what he'd seen into an easy to remember, packable concept. Once you move on from this forced concept, the book becomes more interesting. He begins to discuss how you think to get toward an "elegant" concept. And
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Jan 31, 2011
xdroot
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the book is thought-provoking but seems quite light compared to the other business books i've read. so is it because there's not much to say or because he applies the principles of seduction and subtraction and so forces one to develop the ideas for oneself? while the ideas resonate, it would have been handy if he could have described some tools to apply these principles. maybe in the second book?
Oct 02, 2009
Juan Manuel
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May addressed another imperative interrogative that I dwell upon daily when I design garments. How to make things elegant and timeless. His tone is a little bit cocky and dismissive towards the reader which makes the book hard to get through, yet he gives very clear examples on how to address this idea of subtle elegance that is so hard to attain. Strongly recommended for Sudoku lovers.
Feb 17, 2010
Emily
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Interesting book on why we need elegance and how to achieve it. Elegance is defined as "cleverly apt and simple" and is achieved through symmetry, seduction, subtraction, and sustainability. I liked the big idea of the book and enjoyed the many examples, but did not always see the connection between the two.
"The power of elegance is achieved when the maximum impact is exacted with the minimum input." (need to work on my wordiness)
Why we need elega More...
"The power of elegance is achieved when the maximum impact is exacted with the minimum input." (need to work on my wordiness)
Why we need elega More...
Sep 12, 2009
Kevin
rated it:
May discusses the concept of elegance by using 4 broad components: symmetry, seduction, substitution, & sustainability. I was especially struck by his chapter on sustainability and his discussion on observation and how human beings are wired to think and do quickly, but many flashes of insight only occur after we observe and think, and ask "Why."
Oct 18, 2010
Jeff
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A key theme in the book is that often elegance comes from what you take out rather than keep adding on.
Some interesting thoughts:
1.) What's a free way that an old VHS video store could guarantee that all tapes are rewound? (hint: "be kind, please rewind" stickers and incentive programs didn't work.. additionally tape rewinding machines aren't free)
2.) Imagine letters are made up of sticks. What's the fewest number of sticks you need to move to make More...
Some interesting thoughts:
1.) What's a free way that an old VHS video store could guarantee that all tapes are rewound? (hint: "be kind, please rewind" stickers and incentive programs didn't work.. additionally tape rewinding machines aren't free)
2.) Imagine letters are made up of sticks. What's the fewest number of sticks you need to move to make More...
Sep 22, 2011
Josh
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I was shocked to see so many of the ideas and concepts I'd been considering explained, with examples. I was impressed by the book, though I thought it was a bit longer than necessary (I still gave it five stars because I liked the extra personally, if not professionally).
Jul 06, 2009
Mark
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Elegant solutions to problems employ symmetry, seduction, subtraction, and sustainability. Typically our problem solving embraces two obstacles: acting and adding, thereby satisficing instead of stopping and reflecting long enough to come to an elegant solution.
Aug 26, 2009
Cher
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Hmmm...This book seemed really Master of the Obvious...Not all of the examples matched the concept of elegance...I guess my only real complaint was that the entire book could have been written in one chapter...And I already knew about the concept of elegance & have thought about it so I wasn't particularly illuminating.
Mar 27, 2011
Phil
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I read quite a bit and many books suffer from "me too" complexes. Not this one. An amazing read with applications to so many areas of life. May proves that, in fact, less may be more. Strongly recommended.
Oct 24, 2009
Patrick
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“In Pursuit of Elegance is a fascinating intellectual romp that will change the way you look at your surroundings. As he takes readers from Jackson Pollock paintings to Dutch intersections to the secret menu at In-N-Out Burger, Matt May reveals the hidden elements beneath genuine innovation. This book is surprising, compelling, and, yes, extremely elegant.”
—Daniel H. Pink, author of A Whole New Mind and The Adventures of Johnny Bunko
—Daniel H. Pink, author of A Whole New Mind and The Adventures of Johnny Bunko
Nov 16, 2010
Graeme
rated it:
I love this book!
I have always valued elegance very highly but would have been hard-put to define it well. I can now do that and actively seek it in my work, because I understand that symmetry, sustainability, subtraction, and seduction are its defining characteristics.
I have always valued elegance very highly but would have been hard-put to define it well. I can now do that and actively seek it in my work, because I understand that symmetry, sustainability, subtraction, and seduction are its defining characteristics.
Nov 30, 2011
Jillian
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If you're looking for a Tipping Point-like book, this isn't it. There are a few interesting facts intermingled with common sense advice like, "don't over-think it" and "elegance is simple." Nothing too ground-breaking.
Jul 29, 2010
Hippopottoman
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A little disappointing. Not a bad read, and many of the anecdotes were interesting, but that's as far as it goes. I didn't find that there was a unifying theme threading between the stories - many of the ideas didn't seem to have obvious elegance or even anything missing. For example, the factory without an HR department - I guess it's missing an HR department, but it's not missing the HR role - they just moved it around. It's perhaps not a bad idea, but I think the story glossed over was was pr
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Sep 24, 2011
Martin
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Some great stories about how removing things can make projects/companies/designs better. Nice ideas, but ultimately started to drag on.
Oct 02, 2009
Jim
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I enjoyed this. A quick read much in the style of a Gladwell book. Some interesting insights
Jul 25, 2011
Mahmood
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In general the book is about how to be perfect in what are you working on . Your way to look at things would be totally changed after reading this book . Its an amazing book
Aug 30, 2010
B
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This book was disappointing. I so hoped that Matthew May would provide some beautifully poetic explanation for elegance but instead, he spent 200 pages coming to the conclusion that elegance is found in simplicity. I was rather put off by that.
Jun 03, 2011
Wanling
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The content is not new, but the presentation of the information brings accessibility to the masses.
Jun 21, 2011
Julia
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Good enough, for what it is, but it should have been a lengthy magazine article.
