By Nature's Design (An Exploratorium Book) (Paperback)

by Pat Murphy (Author), Wiliam Neill (Photographer), Diane Ackerman (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Chaos theory may be all the rage in the mathematical world, but most people like at least some measure of order in their lives, whether through daily routines or tested methods of getting something done. Writer Pat Murphy and photographer William Neill appeal to our quest for patterns with this book, based on a major exhibit at San Francisco's Exploratorium. Together they puzzle out how pebbles form clusters on the beach, how an ear of corn grows, how mountains and clouds form and how spiders make their webs: how, in short, nature sees to it that things happen in much the same way again and again. The science is simple ("the sleeping cat curls into a ball because this shape offers the least surface area"), and the photographs are both splendid and informative, making this a fine gift for budding young naturalists.

From School Library Journal
YA-A unique book that can be appreciated on many different levels. Murphy begins with the hypothesis that all humans find solace in patterns-in life and in the natural world. He asserts that symmetry in nature brings the world into focus and attempts to use scientific principles to define these design formations. The extraordinary-quality photographs are divided among six chapters with each section prefaced by a fairly concise, scholarly explanation of the theories, both geometrical and mathematical, demonstrated in the pictures. If nothing else, it is a beautiful browsing book. Art and photography students are sure to have their creativity stimulated by the photos, which range from panoramas to zoom shots of minute details. The repetitive designs found throughout are worthy of study. The afterword includes a discussion of camera types, lenses, and film used. While certainly not light reading, By Nature's Design will be of interest to YAs with a feeling for theoretical thinking.
Nancy Filbey, R.E. Lee High School, Springfield, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books (September 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811803295
• ISBN-13: 978-0811803298
• Product Dimensions: 1 x 1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #731,214 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 10 Star book on nature and patterns, July 28, 2000

By	Lorelle VanFossen (Tel Aviv, Israel) - See all my reviews

If I could give 10 stars to this book, I would. As a fellow nature photographer and instructor, we use this book as the text book for our photography programs, especially the ones on composition, patterns, and natural design. William Neill's photography is outstanding, each picture simple and clear to the point being made. The text is a reflection of the outstanding quality and precision of the photographs, making their point clearly and simply, yet capturing the imagination. You will start looking at the world differently after reading this book, having your imagination captured by the shadows and cracks on the sidewalk, the curls in the petal of a flower, the fascination of designs found in food, plants, the clouds, everywhere you look will seem fresh and new, seen through new eyes.

Interested in math and geometry, this book will open a new world to you in understanding the complexities of nature as well as geometry and other sciences to you. Fractals, rectangles, spirals, mathematical computations we all learned in school come alive under the simple and magical words and the gorgeous images by Mr. Neill. I would include this as a text book in any math class, inspiring and opening student's eyes to the possibilities found in nature.

For nature and photo enthusiasts, you will go back to this book time and time again for inspiration and information. It will help you understand why rose petals open as they do, how a drop of water can hold the most volume before it explodes, making yet another geometrical shape. You learn why cactus have spines, how lava cools, cracking in even shapes. A very exciting lesson comes in learning how scientists, after many frustrating centuries, with the help of computers finally came up with a mathematical computation for measuring mountains, coastlines, clouds, fog, the physical and ethereal elements of nature. The chapter on fractals really expands your understanding of the sciences.

Mr. Neill has done a sequel to this book and it is also worth getting, as is anything he touches. He is an inspired and dedicated photographer, who some say is carrying on the work of his mentor, Ansel Adams, but I say he is carving his own unique road, in someways surpassing the master's work.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ideal for graphic designers, October 15, 2004

By	Karmen Flemming - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This book is a must for people who study or work in the field of graphic art. It reminds us the shapes and maths we use in computer programs originate from cosmos ;-). The subtleties of natural colour shape and composition remains an inspiration to my every day job as a graphic artist. Beautiful photography indeed.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!, December 9, 2001

By	apoem "apoem" (Bosque Farms, NM USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This book is lovely. The pictures are gorgeous. The text only compliments the pictures. The text is simple and easy to understand.

I used this book when teaching the gifted students math and science. The book is so lovely that many times my students would just read it because of that, not because they were trying to see a concept.

Now I use it as a goal for my personal photography. (I can only hope to be that good someday!)

This is a gorgeous book and well worth the money.