What Shape Is a Snowflake?

by Ian Stewart

Think of the stripes of a zebra and the complexities of a spider’s web. Think of a snowflake… These are natural patterns that have been recognized for centuries, and they can all be accounted for mathematically. In this enlightening book, Ian Stewart shows how life on Earth develops not simply from the outworkings of genetic processes, but also from the principles of mathematics. The result is a visually compelling guide to the links between mathematics and the natural world – a beautiful journey through the fields of science, mathematics, history and art.

Genres: Nonfiction, Mathematics

224 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 1998

About the author

Ian Nicholas Stewart is an Emeritus Professor and Digital Media Fellow in the Mathematics Department at Warwick University, with special responsibility for public awareness of mathematics and science. He is best known for his popular science writing on mathematical themes.
--from the author's website

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See other authors with similar names.

Reviews

[Isscandar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Noiosissimo. Vino annacquato o se preferite brodo allungato.

[roro · Rating 5 out of 5]

learning about the #patterns this week

[Ioannis Savvas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Από το σχήμα της χιονονιφάδας στο σχήμα του σύμπαντος…

Ο συγγραφέας (Ian Stewart) απλοποιεί έννοιες των μαθηματικών που περιγράφουν τον κόσμο μας. Τα σχήματα στις ζέβρες, τα χρώματα των σαλιγκαριών, οι αριθμοί Fibonacci, οι συμμετρίες, οι σπείρες, ο χρόνος, τα fractals, η Θεωρία του Χάους, όλα «δένουν» μεταξύ τους κάτω από την επιβλητική δύναμη των μαθηματικών.

Υπάρχει ένα μοναδικό λάθος στη μετάφραση του βιβλίου (τουλάχιστον εγώ μόνο αυτό βρήκα). Μόνο ένας κτηνίατρος/βιολόγος μπορεί να το καταλάβει. Μπορείτε να το βρείτε;

[Peter]

Maths for real people: Ian Stewart provides the key to unlocking the secrets of the mathematical world through the myriad wonderful and varied examples of the everday world.

Why indeed, is a snowflake the overall shape it is and why is every single one unique in the detail. Stewart does what many other science writers do in popularising his subject but it is in the detail that he is unique, and fascinating.