Customer Reviews

The 4th Dimension: Toward a Geometry of Higher Reality

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If you're looking for the paperback version, look for ISBN 0395393884. It doesn't show up as the paperback version of this hardback, probably because the author's name for the paperback is listed as Rudolph Rucker instead of Rudy Rucker.

Hope this helps.

I bought this book about ten years ago, and recently rediscovered it. It is full of nice (though very simplistic) illustrations and lots of references to other books and writers that touch the subject. Not very profound, but enough to tickle the mind and awaken interest for futher investigation into this realm. Rucker has obviously read a lot on this matter and he has made me want the same.

I think this is, quite possibly, one of the best books I've read on the fourth dimension. For those saying "but the fourth dimension is time", all I have to say is, no, not in this case. We're discussing four spatial dimensions, which we can only really represent with mathematics in our three dimensional world. Naturally this is written by a mathematician and he did quite an exquisite job at explaining the nature of this utterly foreign dimension.

Now readers won't walk away being able to picture four dimensional beings or structures, but one will be able to grasp a fairly general understanding of what it would be like for a four dimensional being or object to exist and interact with our dimension. Naturally Rucker does this by explaining the relations between the dimensions by changing our perspective and having us think two dimensionally. For this he relies heavily on a book written by Edwin Abbott called "Flatland". I highly recommend you read "Flatland" before you attempt to tackle Rucker's book, as he constantly quotes "Flatland", almost to his books detriment. He also quotes other texts like "Spaceland" (which Rucker also wrote) or "Flatterland" here and there, but the one he relies upon most is "Flatland". "Flatland" is a natural and easy introduction to learning how to think from the perspective of a different dimension and helps the reader to fully grasp Rucker's analogy as he projects the relationship from the second and third dimensions to a relationship between the third and the fourth dimension. Naturally he points out that some of these points are mere conjecture as we cannot observe fourth dimensional objects in our reality... yet. "The 4th Dimension" is also illustrated with all kinds of silly cartoons to give the book a much lighter feel to its fairly heavy topic. The illustrations will certainly help anyone who really needs to see a drawing of some of the concepts Rucker talks about.

I was originally introduced to some of these concepts via Michio Kaku's book "Hyperspace". While he did a pretty good job explaining four spatial dimensions, I think this book really delves into it a lot deeper. The reader walks away with a much fuller understanding of the concepts concerning this different dimension. Not only will you learn about this, Rucker also goes through a very interesting history concerning humanity's fascination with things beyond our own dimension. He delves into metaphysics and explanations for ghosts as well as recounting the mathematical history (which is the real mainstay of this book). The spiritual aspects of this book are more anecdotal to help give the reader some historical or philosophical perspective in lieu of the mathematics.

If you're really curious about the possibility of other spatial dimensions then this book is a great read. The physics and universe research may be a little outdated by this point since the book originally came out in the 1980's, but it's application in helping a person think of how the fourth dimensional being would react is still applicable. While I'm pretty sure it's agreed that there are more than three spatial dimensions in existence, this book still treats that aspect as if there's still a major debate going on about it. After finding absolute proof of Black Holes in the universe, I think the multi-dimensional universe (or multiverse) concept is pretty realistic, since if the Black Hole singularity transcends our space and time... it has to go somewhere! Anyway, don't forget to read "Flatland" before you pick this up and I think people will find this a fun and informative read.

In 'The 4th Dimension', Rudy Rucker takes a concept that could potentially be made frightfully technical and - through the use of snippets of fiction, humorous drawings (I believe the illustrator also did drawings for many of James Thurber's works), and down-to-earth language - makes it accessible to anyone. I've handed my copy to people who absolutely hated math, and they have been able to come away with at least a basic understanding. As someone who adores math, I found the analogies entertaining without being 'dumbed down'.

I found this book a difficult read. "Flatland" by A. Square (an illustrator) is a definite pre-requisite, and helpful, but even with that under my belt I had problems following Mr. Rucker.

This book presents its material in a well-organized manner.

The author is a brilliant theoretical physicist and explains the concepts wonderfully.

I recommend this book for any and all who wish to understand the essence of time, reality, and the universe in general.

From a very personal level, the book affirms many of my own views pertaining to the cosmos and consciousness. There is indeed a Primary Mover (aka "God"), and he exists and operates in infinite (!) dimensions.