The Divine Proportion: A Study in Mathematical Beauty

by H. E. Huntley

Paperback, 1970

Status

Available

Call number

510.01

Genres

Collections

Books: Non-Fiction, Books: Arcane

Publication

Dover Publications (1970), Edition: 1st, Paperback, 186 pages

Description

Engaging introduction to that curious feature of mathematics which provides framework for so many structures in biology, chemistry, and the arts. Discussion ranges from theories of biological growth to intervals and tones in music, Pythagorean numerology, conic sections, Pascal's triangle, the Fibonnacci series and much more.

User reviews

LibraryThing member fciron

This may be the only book I ever read that actually made me mad at the author. I don't use much beyond the pythagorean theorem on regular basis, but it was pretty clear to me that Huntley was setting up only those example which fit his ideals. I found myself increasingly annoyed when he kept

feigning amazement at finding the golden ratio in his carefully picked examples.

I like math. I like understanding how things work. I regularly find occurrences of repeating patterns and forms in a variety of places in art, nature and science. I hated this book.

Also, favorite quote so far, page 15, about the subconscious: "The dipstick of introspection cannot plumb this layer of the psyche."

Uh, yeah.

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2 more

LibraryThing member KhrystiBooks

As a non-mathematician I was a bit intimidated to read this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. Huntley is very passionate about his subject and uses writings from others to help his purpose. All in all, this book will make one appreciate beauty in a new way, as well as the sciences.

LibraryThing member themulhern

I think this book is trying to relate mathematics to human experience and possibly philosophy.

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