The Geometry of Art and Life

The writing was clear, but the concepts were occasionally difficult to understand. The author made mention of "gnomic" growth a number of times without really giving a single clear definition. Also, I felt that a number of the tie-ins between Phi and architecture were a bit of a stretch. Most likely you could overlay any graph over a blueprint and see any proportion you'd want to see. At any rate, this book has gotten me interested in this subject, and I will be looking for more books on Phi.


Aesthetics you can sink your mind into   July 12, 2001
43 out of 44 found this review helpful

Why are beautiful works of art beautiful? What makes a striking piece of architecture striking? Why is it we find such pleasure in admiring a flower, or a tree? Rather than addressing these questions from a subjective standpoint, Ghyka analyzes the mathematical geometry of classical art, architecture, and biology and attempts to find a common thread to bind them all together. It's a wonderful mix of mathematics and history with a touch of philosophy to season it well. The math is simple, the sort of high-school geometry we've all had and forgotten, but it's critical for the understanding of his argument. If you hate math, you're probably not going to enjoy this book, but if you love art, and are willing to entertain an opinion as to _why_ you love it, I'd recommend suffering through it anyway - I've certainly developed a deeper appreciation of art and aesthetics in reading this book, and think it could be very valuable to serious (or not so serious) art lovers and artists.


Shows how mathematics intertwines with the arts and biology   December 23, 2006
calvinnme (Fredericksburg, Va)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This book is a unique one that combines mathematics with art and somewhat quantifies that which we call beauty. The mathematical concepts presented are not difficult. If you've been exposed to algebra and geometry you should have no trouble. What will definitely help is having studied art, and in particular, art appreciation. With no real feeling for symmetry or form you might not appreciate this book as much as you could.

The book's central focus is to show that patterns, themes of symmetry, and spirals discovered in living forms and living growth are the same themes of proportion that were used by Greek and Gothic architects. It also shows that the proportion known as "The Golden Section" appears to be the principle invariant. The Golden Section's algebraic and geometric properties are discussed, as are its role in biology and in aesthetics.

This book is very accessible, but it is not something you will want to read quickly cover to cover. Instead, the best way to read this book is to read a short section, make sure you understand the underlying mathematics, and then think about what that particular section of the book says about the application of that mathematics to the arts or biology before returning to the book for further reading.


Excellent and Insightful   May 8, 2007
Ben Bristol
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

This short paperback is a hidden gem. It contains so many insightful pithy clues about life, along with easy to understand mathematical paradigms. Every item will have you saying is this math, is it philosophy, is it religion, or is just true in many, many ways.