Customer Reviews

Sacred Geometry (Wooden Books)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

For those who are interested in plane geometry this book is a fun read. For those who are studying the ancient mysteries of Pythagoras, the Kabbala, Hermeticism, Freemasonry and the Alchemists this is a very worthwhile book. The author is aware of the influence that geometry had on the ancient world. She is quite good at giving the reader things to try on their own while explaining the concepts of Ancient and Esoteric geometry. When compared to "Sacred Geometry", by Robert Lawler, this book is not quite as comprehensive but is easier to read and more fun. Both books appeal to the same audience. Try this one first, then move on to Lawler.

This is a very attractive-looking book, and I am very happy if it can make some people more appreciative about mathematicas. But if you are looking for correct info about mathematics or its role in art and culture, then this is not the place to look.

Most of the claims you read about the golden ratio in art and architecture are not valid. The best source of info is the paper "Misconceptions about the golden ratio" by George Markowsky from the College Mathematics Journal v. 23 (1992), 2-19.

If you are interested in the pyramids, please read "The shape of the great pyramid" by Roger Herz-Fischler. Just do it! You will thank me for it!

She claims that there are 14 "demi-regular tilings" of the plane. She defines demiregular to be a tiling (edge-to-edge of regular polygons) with two or three different types of vertices. According to "Tilingss and Patterns" by Grunbaum and Shephard, there are 20 2-uniform tilings and 61 3-uniform tilings.

If you are bothered by statements like "It is nearly impossible to draw a precise heptagon using ruler and compasses alone", then this book is not for you.

Her pictures of the 17 wallpaper groups is wrong. She gives two examples of p1, but misses out on p4g.

Having said this, I must say again that she has a lot of beautiful material in the book. I just think that it is important to be mathematically and historically correct.

This book is a treasure. I was given it as a present and I find myself turning to it for all sorts of ideas and also give it as a present quite regularly. She has managed to pull together a huge amount of wonderful information into a relatively small space. This is an inspiring, beautiful, thought provoking and even useful book. I am a graphic and fabrics designer and I had not come across some of these things before so I am very grateful for them.

I also really like the way the book is put together, lush textured paper (recycled I note) and quality illustrations. The way the subject is built up stage by stage until we reach the more complex set pieces at the back is very good. It helps you understand the basics of good design, and the use of geometry in this process.

I think the new-age overtones work very well too. She manages to convey some of the real mystery and magic of the field while never losing sight of the practical purpose of it all.

Highly recommended.

This is a delightful little book.If you have any interest in Geometry,Math,Design,Shapes,Tile patterns,Puzzles,etc.you'll really enjoy this book.Surprisingly ,you can grasp most of this book knowing high school math,;while at the same time those with more math knowledge will also enjoy it as well.I guess it falls right in the realm of Mathematical Recreations.I am amazed that the author has put together a beautifully writen book,including 168 drawings,figures,diagrams and on top of that shows how most are constructed.All this has been accomplished in 64 pages ,including an introduction.

This little book, Sacred Geometry, is not only magical and straightforward in its substance, but is a visual delight. It reminds and further inspires to realize the connectedness of all of life and our part in it. It helps me, also, as an artist, to remember the basic forms that resonate in all of creation. This is not only a good book to give as a gift, but is a good one to have on your own bookshelf.

This splendid little book is suitable for all ages to introduce them to the wonder of high architecture and interior design. Very simple explanations and illustrations show how the basic patterns of nature echo in human consciousness in what has been conceived in the mind and wrought by the hands over the centuries. Highly recommend for artists and draftsmen as well who wish to research or emulate classical ideas for themselves.

This simple book describing basic shapes is nice, contains some attractive geometric figures and displays some significant relationships between structures basic geometric figures. It is one of those books that you glance through quickly, are impressed by the contents, and yet are disappointed in the depth. With only 58 pages, half of which are diagrams, there is little space for detailed explanations of the figures. Great book, but it is only a tease into the wealth and depth of geometry.

Clear explanations and exercises that invite the reader to try for themselves. Numberphiles and numberphobes alike will find much in this book that delights. Note that this is but one in a growing series -- "Useful Mathematical & Physical Formulae" and "Sun, Moon & earth" are two others. After I read "geometry" and "formulae" I put them on my reference shelf, and catch myself taking them down frequently, not only for the information they contain, but as a pleasant mind-tickling break from my usual work. Can't wait to see what titles arrive next! -Paul Saffo

As an Art Teacher, I found this a great book for breaking down the somewhat complicated subject of Sacred Geometry. Get a ruler a protractor and follow the author's instructions and what was once difficult will become much easier to understand and practice. You will need a little background of basic geometry to get started but the effort is well worth it.

I had the pleasure of meeting the brilliant and witty author of this book in 2004. :-) This book, like all the Wooden Books series is a gem in and of itself, and combined with others in the series, weaves wonderful contextual insights about the mystical underpinnings of nature, expressed in form, number and dynamic shape. This book has concentrated many useful and fascinating observations about what has become known as sacred geometry into an exquisite little package, with meticulous illustrations. Highly recommended! [...]