Artists and scientists view the world in quite different ways. Nevertheless, they are united in a search for hidden order beneath surface appearances. The quest for eternal geometrical designs is also seen in the sacred mathematical patterns created by the world's great religions. Tibetan monks fashion chalk mandalas representing the emergence of order in the universe. Moslem architects wrap their buildings in elaborate abstract tessellating designs.
Celestial Tapestry places mathematics within a vibrant cultural and historical context. Threads are woven together telling of surprising influences that pass between the Arts and Mathematics. The story involves intriguing characters: the soldier who laid the foundations for fractals and computer art while recovering in hospital after suffering serious injury in the First World War; the mathematician imprisoned for bigamy whose books had a huge influence on twentieth century art; the pioneer clockmaker who suffered from leprosy; the Victorian housewife who amazed mathematicians with her intuition for higher-dimensional space.
Industry Reviews
very accessible, beautifully illustrated...wide ranging in theme and in ambition * Wallace A. Ferguson, Mathematics Today *
The book is an enjoyable and very readable account of various topics linking mathematics to a variety of human activities and knowledge * Ester Dalvit, zbMATH Open *
Feels like a cabinet of curiosities of the mind, with interesting things linking maths and the the world, particularly the arts... You can always tell if a book is good if you can't wait to get back to it. That was definitely the case here. A little gem. * Brian Clegg, Popular Science *
Celestial Tapestry is an invaluable overview of what we know about art and science, and the myriad great minds throughout history that wove our knowledge. Dr. Mee's strength is bringing the people of the past alive, and the history of art and science is brilliantly condensed here into a book that summarises the last two thousand years of human development. * Mark Sheeky, The Barracks Trust Award Winner *
The book comes across as a kind of tapestry collection, with one item leading onto the next in a successive association of ideas and threads woven together it is quite some journey through the author's mind and reading, bringing out some intriguing connections and little-known items as well as recontextualising many great creative discoveries. * Paradigm Explorer *
In his Celestial Tapestry, Nicholas Mee has woven for us a richly illustrated warp and weft of mathematical ideas, displayed in a rich variety of pictorial forms. He also loves storytelling - the tapestry takes centuries to take shape, though the retelling of it is at a veritable whirlwind of a pace. Symmetry, combinatorics, spirals, labyrinths and the construction of the cosmos all appear in their ancient, Islamic and western episodes. * Professor Tom McLeish, University of York *
Nicholas Mee skilfully weaves together art, science, history and myth to show us the intricate and enchanting patterns that the universe provides and that we as humans discover and celebrate. An engrossing and highly readable tour through both time and space. * Ross King, author of Brunelleschi's Dome and Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling *
"In this spiritual must-read, Nicholas Mee guides you through some of the most enchanting and intricate patterns in the Universe using art, science, history and myth." * Soul & Spirit *
