The Mobius Strip: Dr. August Mobius's Marvelous Band in Mathematics, Games, Literature, Art, Technology, and Cosmology

by Clifford A. Pickover

The road that leads from the Möbius strip—a common-sense-defying continuous loop with only one side and one edge, made famous by the illustrations of M.C. Escher—goes to some of the strangest spots imaginable. It takes us to a place where the purely intellectual enters our daily where our outraged senses, overloaded with grocery bills, the price of gas, and what to eat for lunch, are expected to absorb really bizarre ideas. And no better guide to this weird universe exists than the brilliant thinker Clifford A. Pickover, the 21st century's answer to Buckminster Fuller.

Come along as Pickover traces the origins of the Möbius strip from the mid-1800s, when the visionary scientist Dr. August Möbius became the first to describe the properties of one-sided surfaces, to the present, where it is an integral part of mathematics, magic, science, art, engineering, literature, and music. It has become a metaphor for change, strangeness, looping, and rejuvenation.

Touching on everything from molecules and metal sculptures to postage stamps, architectural structures, and models of our entire universe, The Möbius Strip is lavishly illustrated and gives readers a glimpse into other worlds and new ways of thinking as Pickover reaches across cultures and dimensions.

Genres: Science, Mathematics, Nonfiction, Physics, History

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Clifford Alan Pickover is an American author, editor, and columnist in the fields of science, mathematics, science fiction, innovation, and creativity. For many years, he was employed at the IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown, New York, where he was editor-in-chief of the IBM Journal of Research and Development. He has been granted more than 700 U.S. patents, is an elected Fellow for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, and is author of more than 50 books, translated into more than a dozen languages.

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is very dry. A mobius strip is a piece of paper twisted, and reconected, causing and endless circle effect. It keeps starting over, repeating itself. Yes, this aspect can be attributed to EVERYTHING in life. After several chapters it becomes clear this book itself is a mobius strip.
The best part is the begining. Two limmericks kick it all off to set the tone.

A burlesque dancer quite fit,
named Virginia could peel in a zip.
But she read science fiction, and died of constriction attempting the Mobius strip.

Said the ant to his friends "I declare!
This is a most vexing affair.
We've been round and round,
but all that we've found,
is the other side just isn't there!"

[Bram · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pro
- The book contains many very nice riddles related to Möbius strips! The solutions are at the end, so you won't cheat unless you want to.

Con
- Sometimes you really needed extra figures, for example when the author was describing the "Roman surface".
- When talking about the possibility of a Möbius-like shaped universe, the author did not give the important remark that this is only science fiction or at least extremely unlikely. Good book on this subject: "A Universe from Nothing" by Lawrence M. Krauss.
- Some book filling sections like the use of Möbius strip in arts and movies, a section about Mandelbrot, ...

[Mister · Rating 3 out of 5]

Its a juxtaposition of various fields into one topic like a never-ending yo-yo that makes it an intriguing read though some passages were monotonous until you come to see amazing creativity at work via different cultures incorporatig this Mobius strip concept into their literature and artwork.

[Vashti Braha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in preparation to teach my new "Mobius Mindbender" slip stitch crochet class for CGOA. (The conference ended up being canceled due to the pandemic.)

It's a grab bag type of book, like a scrapbook of anything regarding the Mobius strip that interested the author. It was fun to read a book written in this style because I didn't really know what would come next. It was peppered with references to Mobius strips in literature. I'm surprised how much I enjoyed that, especially after a pretty heady or heavy section on the theoretical math side of the subject.

The experience of *crocheting* a true Mobius is important and underestimated. But then, most of crochet is underestimated.

[Claire Binkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never know whether I like this stuff or not. I am guessing when I read this book before, but I am certain I did.

I think you can't stare at these too long or they confuse the eye. Well, I might have accidentally drawn one since I had no choice in the matter, but logically they are confusing to sort out on the paper.

Finding the end of the Möbius strip is challenging and makes me search for my blindfold which I lost years ago.

I suppose one could think of this as one of those exercise books, and so now my eyes are more fully exercised.

I must have liked it. Maybe you will, too.

[Don]

Pickover traces the origins of the Möbius strip from the mid-1800s, when the visionary scientist Dr. August Möbius became the first to describe the properties of one-sided surfaces, to the present, where it is an integral part of mathematics, magic, science, art, engineering, literature, and music. Today Möbius's strip is everywhere: it forms the familiar recycling symbol; freestyle skiers attempt a stunt called a “Möbius flip;” and it appears in the works of artists like M.C. Escher and writers like Arthur C. Clarke. This eclectic book is full of amusement and curiosity.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pickover is obviously a genius, but he seems to lack an internal editor, and his publisher did not provide him with a book editor. Pity, because this book is rich with mathematical ideas and has bright illustrations facing every page of text.

Problem is, it's not a book, but a collection of everything concerning Möbius, discoverer of the famous one-side, one-face strip that bears his name. Because the book is about everything Möbius, it wanders far afield and arrives nowhere. Too non-linear for me, alas.

[elyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

mobious was a crazy old cat; like barthes on watt's zentrip, a mathematical magician tells a grand history of the strip and its influences in the culture. more pirckover here: http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/Pickov...

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating to discover Möbius strips not only in science and curiosity, but in literature, games, religion, technology, autism, magic... So many facets to this one-sided strip. The book is well written and fun to read.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of amusing diversions.

[Jack Vinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun facts for math nerds. Pickover covers a lot of ground in this one, centered around the fun of Möbius strips.

[Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very elementary and written in light style. Suitable for those who has not really gone into topological studies or have not read much on the topic.

[J C · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite badly written. Rambles with unnecessary information. Written as if for children but no child would really enjoy I don't think. Boring.

[Josh Cochran · Rating 4 out of 5]

One if those cool math books that anyone would enjoy

[Anacardoide · Rating 4 out of 5]

Que no engañe el nombre, el libro relaciona la banda de Möebius con un huevo de cosas y a veces se va por las ramas hasta el punto de acabar hablando de darwinismo cosmológico.

[Dick Hamilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good but too much math for the casual reader. I guess that makes me a casual reader.