Product Description

Fractal Geometry is the geometry of the natural world - animal, vegetable and mineral. It’s about the broken, wrinkled, wiggly world - the uneven shapes of nature, unlike the idealised forms of Euclidean geometry. We see fractals everywhere; indeed we are fractal! Fractal Geometry is an extension of classical geometry. Using computers, it can make precise models of physical structures - from ferns to galaxies. Fractal geometry is a new language. Once you speak it, you can describe the shape of cloud as precisely as an architect can describe a house.

Introducing Fractal Geometry traces the historical development of this mathematical discipline, explores its descriptive powers in the natural world, and then looks at the applications and the implications of the discoveries it has made. As John Archibald Wheeler, protégé of Niels Bohr, friend of Albert Einstein and mentor of Richard Feynman has said, "No one will be considered scientifically literate tomorrow, who is not familiar with fractals."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #321317 in Books
• Published on: 2006-02-02
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

Customer Reviews

Great Introduction - Fun and Readable.
A grand overview of the whole field of fractal geometry - starting with early foundations via the julia set, Professor Mandelbrot, applications of fractal geometry etc. etc. etc. An intruiging reading list - for laymen to experts is included. All presented in a visual and memorable format. HIGHLY RECCOMMENDED!!!

The book is ok, don't let first impressions put you off
I've edited my review and now my review consists of two parts, my initial review and secondly my amendments after having read it cover to cover.

1. Initial Review

Don't buy this book if you are expecting a book on mathematics. The format is graphic and bordering on comic strip format with little mathematical content. I was expecting an under graduate level book with maybe some elementary computer programs so the reader could have a go generating their own fractals. Anyone wanting an introduction this elementary would be better off just reading the Wikipedia page on fractals. This book should be listed in the children's section as the reading age and presentation are aimed at eleven to early teens. I feel a bit ripped off to be honest. This isn't what I expected when I ordered the book.

2. Amended Review

After having read the book from cover to cover I can now see what the authors wanted to do. It is a good introduction and offers and insight into fractal geometry from first principles. I have to admit this wasn't what I was after, but I guess the clue was in the title 'introduction' ! My mistake. After my scathing initial review I must confess I rather enjoyed reading the book and think its good value as an introduction. My comments on the graphics remain, however, and a topic like fractal geometry really does deserve better quality print and colour. So to conclude I DO recommend this book to anyone wanting and introduction to the topic. It will serve as an initial reference for those not sure about investing more money initially or those not sure whether their maths is up to a more advanced reference.

In retrospect I think the one star was a bit harsh and think maybe three or four stars would be a fairer appraisal. Can't go higher because of the black and white poor quality graphics.

Lively Introduction
The "Introducing ..." series is great for skimming through a subject you've heard might be interesting but is also very complicated. When you normally try to find out about these subjects you end up wading through pages of introductory theory or wads of historical background.

This book, like others in the series, gets straight on with it and covers a lot of ground very quickly. I read the whole book in four or five quick 'dips' and found it a great jumping off point for further study.

The 'graphic novel' format works well for such a visual subject - interestingly a lot of mathematics in the book ignored for many years because there weren't computer graphics available to illustrate the results!

In a book of this size the subjects can only be skimmed over but I did find the description of Julia Sets a bit too brief.