The Loom of God: Tapestries of Mathematics and Mysticism (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Are there mathematical proofs of God? Who are the great mathematicians who believed in a deity? Does numerology lead anywhere when applied to sacred literature? Pickover covers these and many other off-trail topics with his usual verve, humor, and clarity. And along the way the reader will learn a great deal of serious mathematics.”—Martin Gardner, author of The Book of Visual Illusions

 

“Pickover has done it again, with a marvelously entertaining, historical romp through the unexpected connections between mathematics and mysticism.”—Paul Hoffman, Discover magazine

 

“Clifford A. Pickover leads readers on a dazzling, lushly illustrated tour of the intersection of number and the numinous.”—Publishers Weekly

 

Product Description

From the mysterious cult of Pythagoras to the awesome mechanics of Stonehenge to the “gargoyles” and fractals on today’s computers, mathematics has always been a powerful, even divine force in the world. In a lively, intelligent synthesis of math, mysticism, and science fiction, Clifford Pickover explains the eternal magic of numbers. Taking a uniquely humorous approach, he appoints readers “Chief Historian” of an intergalactic museum and sends them, along with a quirky cast of characters, hurtling through the ages to explore how individuals used numbers for such purposes as predicting the end of the world, finding love, and winning wars.

 

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Product Details Paperback: 288 pages Publisher: Sterling; Reprint edition (May 5, 2009) Language: English ISBN-10: 1402764006 ISBN-13: 978-1402764004 Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1 inches Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #76,201 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #14 in  Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Divination > Numerology #79 in  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Practices > Mysticism

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	51% buy the item featured on this page: The Loom of God: Tapestries of Mathematics and Mysticism 5.0 out of 5 stars (1) $12.21
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Customer Reviews

1 Review 5 star:  (1) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 5.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 9 of 13 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Mathematical loom of destiny., June 11, 2009 By  Paul Moskowitz (Yorktown, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    What does Pickover mean by the loom in the "Loom of God?" There are two historic looms that I can think of that relate to this title. The first loom is the Greek Loom of the Fates. Each person's life is a thread. This is a loom of destiny. When one of the Fates cuts your thread, it is all over. The second loom is a mathematical loom. The Jacquard Loom used punched cards to control the positioning of threads. Herman Hollerith adopted the punched cards for the tabulation of 1890 census data. Soon after that, he founded a company, the Tabulating Machine Company, which after some mergers, in 1924 became the International Business Machines Corporation. Pickover's loom is a combination of the Loom of the Fates and the Jacquard Loom. It is a mathematical loom of destiny. In this work Pickover illustrates mathematical calculations for the end of the world. There is, of course, the end of the 5000-year Mayan calendar cycle, December 21, 2012. But, did you know about the population explosion of November 13, 2021, or the impending comet impact of August 21, 2126? And Pickover looks like such a happy person in his dust jacket photos. Along the way to our destiny, we are treated to the Urantia Book which contains some interesting large numbers. The Urantia Book is like the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP). They are each over 2000 pages long, the author is unknown, and they are treated as bibles by some. We also learn that the Aubrey holes at Stonehenge can be used to predict eclipses. This interesting analysis was explained by G. S. Hawkins in Stonehenge Decoded. We also learn about quipu knot writing, numerical gargoyles, and much more. The "Loom of God" is filled with interesting stories and mathematical curiosities. This book is wonderfully illustrated. There is a drawing or photo on almost every page to go with the stories. As for the end of the world, my bet is September 21, 2012, three months before the Mayan calendar flips its 5000 year page to a new cycle. This date is when some models have predicted that the Arctic Ocean will be ice free. Actually, this event will not be the end, but may signal an early tipping point in the climate change scenario. In the meantime, enjoy Pickover's book.		Ad feedback   Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Sterling; Reprint edition (May 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402764006
• ISBN-13: 978-1402764004
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #76,201 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #14 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > New Age > Divination > Numerology
  #79 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Practices > Mysticism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mathematical loom of destiny., June 11, 2009

By	Paul Moskowitz (Yorktown, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What does Pickover mean by the loom in the "Loom of God?" There are two historic looms that I can think of that relate to this title.

The first loom is the Greek Loom of the Fates. Each person's life is a thread. This is a loom of destiny. When one of the Fates cuts your thread, it is all over.

The second loom is a mathematical loom. The Jacquard Loom used punched cards to control the positioning of threads. Herman Hollerith adopted the punched cards for the tabulation of 1890 census data. Soon after that, he founded a company, the Tabulating Machine Company, which after some mergers, in 1924 became the International Business Machines Corporation.

Pickover's loom is a combination of the Loom of the Fates and the Jacquard Loom. It is a mathematical loom of destiny. In this work Pickover illustrates mathematical calculations for the end of the world. There is, of course, the end of the 5000-year Mayan calendar cycle, December 21, 2012. But, did you know about the population explosion of November 13, 2021, or the impending comet impact of August 21, 2126? And Pickover looks like such a happy person in his dust jacket photos.

Along the way to our destiny, we are treated to the Urantia Book which contains some interesting large numbers. The Urantia Book is like the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP). They are each over 2000 pages long, the author is unknown, and they are treated as bibles by some. We also learn that the Aubrey holes at Stonehenge can be used to predict eclipses. This interesting analysis was explained by G. S. Hawkins in Stonehenge Decoded. We also learn about quipu knot writing, numerical gargoyles, and much more.

The "Loom of God" is filled with interesting stories and mathematical curiosities. This book is wonderfully illustrated. There is a drawing or photo on almost every page to go with the stories.

As for the end of the world, my bet is September 21, 2012, three months before the Mayan calendar flips its 5000 year page to a new cycle. This date is when some models have predicted that the Arctic Ocean will be ice free. Actually, this event will not be the end, but may signal an early tipping point in the climate change scenario. In the meantime, enjoy Pickover's book.