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telegraph.co.uk

Marcus du Sautoy

Finding Moonshine

Mathematical Group theory seems a pretty obscure subject, and most people probably wouldn't think of theclassification of simple groups, completed in the 1980's, as being of ny interest. If you read Marcus du Sautoy's book Finding Moonshine: A Mathematician's Journey Through Symmetry, though, then you might get to understand the enthusiasm of a small number of people for this subject.

The book is in twelve chapters, each given the name of a month of the year (starting, not with January as you might expect, but with August). Du Sautoy tells of his life as a mathematician, describing some of the problems he works on, and the experience of solving such a problem after having battled with it for months or years - but then there's always the worry that there's a hidden flaw. We also find out about his holidays, which also involve plenty of mathematics - on his visit to the Alhambra palace in Granada, du Sautoy was determined to find examples of all 17 two dimensional symmetries in the wall patterns.

A significant thread in the book is the history of symmetry, from the Platonic solids, through the development of algebra up to the work of Galois, and continuing with the development of group theory in the 19th and 20th century. The reader is thus introduced to the 'Monster' group, and its relationships with totally a separate part of mathematics - the 'Moonshine' of the title (In the USA the book is entitled Symmetry: A Journey into the Patterns of Nature though.)

It's an entertaining read, and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a glimpse into the life of abstract mathematics with a minimum of technicalities.

Amazon.com info

Paperback 384 pages
ISBN: 0060789417
Salesrank: 105795
Weight:0.6 lbs

Published: 2009 Harper Perennial

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Paperback 400 pages
ISBN: 0007214626
Salesrank: 19287
Weight:0.62 lbs

Published: 2009 HarperPerennial

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Paperback 384 pages
ISBN: 0060789417
Salesrank: 330205
Weight:0.6 lbs

Published: 2009 Harper Perennial

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Product Description
Symmetry is all around us. Of fundamental significance to the way we interpret the world, this unique, pervasive phenomenon indicates a dynamic relationship between objects. Combining a rich historical narrative with his own personal journey as a mathematician, Marcus du Sautoy takes a unique look into the mathematical mind as he explores deep conjectures about symmetry and brings us face-to-face with the oddball mathematicians, both past and present, who have battled to understand symmetry's elusive qualities.

Product Description

Symmetry is all around us. Of fundamental significance to the way we interpret the world, this unique, pervasive phenomenon indicates a dynamic relationship between objects. Combining a rich historical narrative with his own personal journey as a mathematician, Marcus du Sautoy takes a unique look into the mathematical mind as he explores deep conjectures about symmetry and brings us face-to-face with the oddball mathematicians, both past and present, who have battled to understand symmetry's elusive qualities.

A Disappointing Mathematical Memoir **
Symmmetry: A Journey Into the Patterns of Nature shows a lot of potential. There simply aren't many books targeted to a lay audience exploring the complex concept of symmetry. But does Sautoy deliver a successful and accessible tome outlining symmetry and the nature of mathematical patterns? Pros: Well designed cover; Interesting topic; Fusion of math & memoir Cons: Condescending tone; Frequent redundancies; Lack of preface Like most recent science and math books, Symmetry is divided into chapters with accurate and descriptive subheadings within each chapter. There are twelve chapters in all, each titled with a different month, representing the author's personal journey to turning 40 and beyond. While this is a somewhat novel arrangement for a math book, what Symmetry lacks is a preface. A preface is much appreciated at the outset of a work of non-fiction. The preface typically serves to introduce the topic at hand, as well as to provide a helpful lesson to the reader regarding any technical terms and jargon necessary to the understand the remainder of the book. Despite the lack of a preface, Sautoy does briefly define, or provide an illustration for, each of the higher level mathematical terms as they are discussed. However, even with this assistance from the author some concepts are just too advanced for a general popular readership. One such concept is the idea of greater than three-dimensional objects and space. While this concept may indeed be too difficult for all of Symmetry's readers to grasp, Sautoy's condescending tone when discussing multi-dimensional objects is wholly unnecessary and made me want to put the book down and not pick it up again. Another flaw impairing the overall readability of Symmetry: A Journey Into the Patterns of Nature is the repetitiveness of certain observations from Sautoy's mentors. While these observations are undoubtably important to Sautoy and to the concept at hand, Symmetry's audience should be given some credit. It is a rare reader that forgets what occured in Chapter 1 before completing Chapter 2, and likewise for Chapters 2 and 3. Symmetry is also nearly entirely lacking in footnotes but it does have an endnotes and a futher reading section at its conclusion which could be helpful for higher-level math students doing research projects. This book is only recommended for those with an advanced understanding of higher level mathematics and readers with a high degree of patience who can overlook a condescending tone and dull repetition.

A Disappointing Mathematical Memoir **

Symmmetry: A Journey Into the Patterns of Nature shows a lot of potential. There simply aren't many books targeted to a lay audience exploring the complex concept of symmetry. But does Sautoy deliver a successful and accessible tome outlining symmetry and the nature of mathematical patterns?

Pros: Well designed cover; Interesting topic; Fusion of math & memoir

Cons: Condescending tone; Frequent redundancies; Lack of preface

Like most recent science and math books, Symmetry is divided into chapters with accurate and descriptive subheadings within each chapter. There are twelve chapters in all, each titled with a different month, representing the author's personal journey to turning 40 and beyond.

While this is a somewhat novel arrangement for a math book, what Symmetry lacks is a preface. A preface is much appreciated at the outset of a work of non-fiction. The preface typically serves to introduce the topic at hand, as well as to provide a helpful lesson to the reader regarding any technical terms and jargon necessary to the understand the remainder of the book.

Despite the lack of a preface, Sautoy does briefly define, or provide an illustration for, each of the higher level mathematical terms as they are discussed. However, even with this assistance from the author some concepts are just too advanced for a general popular readership.

One such concept is the idea of greater than three-dimensional objects and space. While this concept may indeed be too difficult for all of Symmetry's readers to grasp, Sautoy's condescending tone when discussing multi-dimensional objects is wholly unnecessary and made me want to put the book down and not pick it up again.

Another flaw impairing the overall readability of Symmetry: A Journey Into the Patterns of Nature is the repetitiveness of certain observations from Sautoy's mentors. While these observations are undoubtably important to Sautoy and to the concept at hand, Symmetry's audience should be given some credit. It is a rare reader that forgets what occured in Chapter 1 before completing Chapter 2, and likewise for Chapters 2 and 3.

Symmetry is also nearly entirely lacking in footnotes but it does have an endnotes and a futher reading section at its conclusion which could be helpful for higher-level math students doing research projects.

This book is only recommended for those with an advanced understanding of higher level mathematics and readers with a high degree of patience who can overlook a condescending tone and dull repetition.

A Journey through the World of Symmetry *****
Du Sautoy is one of those mathematicians who can do it all. He is the best popularizer of mathematics I have read so far. I liked the way he introduces the ideas of symmetry throughout the book, one at a time, and shows their beauty and relevance. Another very cool feature of this book is that it incorporates the author's own personal journey through mathematics and his discoveries along the route of beautiful aspects of symmetry. Who can resist a guy who takes his young son to museums to show him displays of ancient artifacts and explains their mathematical properties. This is one great read.

A Journey through the World of Symmetry *****

Du Sautoy is one of those mathematicians who can do it all. He is the best popularizer of mathematics I have read so far.
I liked the way he introduces the ideas of symmetry throughout the book, one at a time, and shows their beauty and relevance.
Another very cool feature of this book is that it incorporates the author's own personal journey through mathematics and his discoveries along the route of beautiful aspects of symmetry.
Who can resist a guy who takes his young son to museums to show him displays of ancient artifacts and explains their mathematical properties.
This is one great read.

uneven ***
I had read and enjoyed the author's previous "Music of the Primes" and so gave this new work in the author's research area a read. It was not as coherent and informative as the previous work. There is an attempt to give a glimpse of what it is like to be a working mathematician and a person rather than really delving deeply into the subject matter of finite simple groups and moonshine. For the latter I found Ronan's "Symmetry and the Monster" to be excellent at bringing into view the players and the concepts. As for a portrait of a working mathematician, the present work feels incomplete like the author really hasn't gotten to a stopping point in his research that allows us to understand the journey.

uneven ***

I had read and enjoyed the author's previous "Music of the Primes" and so gave this new work in the author's research area a read. It was not as coherent and informative as the previous work. There is an attempt to give a glimpse of what it is like to be a working mathematician and a person rather than really delving deeply into the subject matter of finite simple groups and moonshine. For the latter I found Ronan's "Symmetry and the Monster" to be excellent at bringing into view the players and the concepts. As for a portrait of a working mathematician, the present work feels incomplete like the author really hasn't gotten to a stopping point in his research that allows us to understand the journey.

History of Mathematical Personalities -- not Mathematics **
I purchased this book because I hoped to gain a better understanding of group theory evolution. It does an excellent job of introducing symmetry and providing a historical context of its mathematical introduction. After the introductory chapters it goes downhill fast. It does not adequately address the explosive development of group theory during the mid 20th century. A previous NYTimes review also stated that the book described how group theory was instrumental in the development of advanced physics (unified field theory) in the latter 20th century. It mentions only sparingly and superficially the connection between group theory and physics. In summary it seems to be primarily a history of the mathematical personalities involved in group theory research -- an ego quest, perhaps. The author focuses most of his attention later in the book on personal anecdotes related to 'great' mathematicians he has known. A history of personalities without a corresponding effective history of the concepts is not worth the time it takes to read.

History of Mathematical Personalities -- not Mathematics **

I purchased this book because I hoped to gain a better understanding of group theory evolution. It does an excellent job of introducing symmetry and providing a historical context of its mathematical introduction. After the introductory chapters it goes downhill fast. It does not adequately address the explosive development of group theory during the mid 20th century. A previous NYTimes review also stated that the book described how group theory was instrumental in the development of advanced physics (unified field theory) in the latter 20th century. It mentions only sparingly and superficially the connection between group theory and physics.

In summary it seems to be primarily a history of the mathematical personalities involved in group theory research -- an ego quest, perhaps. The author focuses most of his attention later in the book on personal anecdotes related to 'great' mathematicians he has known.

A history of personalities without a corresponding effective history of the concepts is not worth the time it takes to read.

This Book is on the LeveL *****
Of the many books on the market today explaining some aspect of science for a general audience this is one of the best. I've read enough books to know that even with an editor (though sometimes I wonder if there was a conscious editor) making a science subject generally approachable is a rare gift. Dr. Marcus du Sautoy does this using several techniques: - By relating the story of symmetry through the lives of mathematicians. From the ancient Greeks who were just beginning to understand the nature of prime numbers and first understood the beauty of (what we call) the Platonic Solids, to contemporary group theorists. Along the way filling in important parts contributed by Islamic thinkers in the Golden Age of Islam (esp. al-Khwarizmi) and the Persian Umar al-Khayyami about 200 years later, to the Renaissance and on into the early 18th Century. From there the coverage of personalities is essentially continuous, though by no means complete, right up to the present. - By relating the story of symmetry through his own life in autobiographical flashbacks and diary-like commentary throughout the year he took to write this book. One of the funnier bits comes near the end of the book where Dr. du Sautoy gives an outline of the typical personalities of professors in mathematics. It seems a predilection with logic and systematization tends to curb empathic and other social functions. Which is to say they are quite the quirky bunch. A condition commonly called Asperger's Syndrome today. Interestingly the three-star review by Michael Hambro highlights this very characteristic by failing to see how others (most others) less gifted in mathematics might be better carried along using these literary techniques. Or in his words, "Would have liked a somewhat more mathematical angle. Chatty about irrelevant and uninteresting family life". Ah, the voice of Asperger's. - By ignoring the minutia and many numerological dead ends that often plague the daily pursuit of pure mathematics. To be sure we get an inkling of the years of toil and frustration for those who pursue pure mathematics but Dr. du Sautoy spares us the bulk of the tedium. - By relating symmetry to our daily lives. Especially our general human partiality towards finding beauty or aesthetic pleasure in symmetry. As seen in all mediums of art from architecture to painting to sculpture and to music. Indeed his (all too short) chapter (9th) on music and symmetry is a far better primer on the depth of meaning of music for the human condition than most books devoted to the topic. Dr. du Sautoy makes many other connections for our need of symmetry, some firm, some just a thread, that touch upon subjects as diverse as cosmology to chemistry to subatomic particles. - And by abjuring Hawking's dictum Dr. du Sautoy has leave to place a few score equations in his book. Some of them are as simple as 1 + 196,883 = 196,884 but many are rather more complex algebraic functions and diagrams. The many economically drawn diagrams definitely help for those of us whose spatial intelligence lies near the norm. So, if you find yourself interested in mathematics in general and symmetry especially then buy this book and read it.

This Book is on the LeveL *****

Of the many books on the market today explaining some aspect of science for a general audience this is one of the best. I've read enough books to know that even with an editor (though sometimes I wonder if there was a conscious editor) making a science subject generally approachable is a rare gift.

Dr. Marcus du Sautoy does this using several techniques:

- By relating the story of symmetry through the lives of mathematicians. From the ancient Greeks who were just beginning to understand the nature of prime numbers and first understood the beauty of (what we call) the Platonic Solids, to contemporary group theorists. Along the way filling in important parts contributed by Islamic thinkers in the Golden Age of Islam (esp. al-Khwarizmi) and the Persian Umar al-Khayyami about 200 years later, to the Renaissance and on into the early 18th Century. From there the coverage of personalities is essentially continuous, though by no means complete, right up to the present.

- By relating the story of symmetry through his own life in autobiographical flashbacks and diary-like commentary throughout the year he took to write this book. One of the funnier bits comes near the end of the book where Dr. du Sautoy gives an outline of the typical personalities of professors in mathematics. It seems a predilection with logic and systematization tends to curb empathic and other social functions. Which is to say they are quite the quirky bunch. A condition commonly called Asperger's Syndrome today. Interestingly the three-star review by Michael Hambro highlights this very characteristic by failing to see how others (most others) less gifted in mathematics might be better carried along using these literary techniques. Or in his words, "Would have liked a somewhat more mathematical angle. Chatty about irrelevant and uninteresting family life". Ah, the voice of Asperger's.

- By ignoring the minutia and many numerological dead ends that often plague the daily pursuit of pure mathematics. To be sure we get an inkling of the years of toil and frustration for those who pursue pure mathematics but Dr. du Sautoy spares us the bulk of the tedium.

- By relating symmetry to our daily lives. Especially our general human partiality towards finding beauty or aesthetic pleasure in symmetry. As seen in all mediums of art from architecture to painting to sculpture and to music. Indeed his (all too short) chapter (9th) on music and symmetry is a far better primer on the depth of meaning of music for the human condition than most books devoted to the topic. Dr. du Sautoy makes many other connections for our need of symmetry, some firm, some just a thread, that touch upon subjects as diverse as cosmology to chemistry to subatomic particles.

- And by abjuring Hawking's dictum Dr. du Sautoy has leave to place a few score equations in his book. Some of them are as simple as 1 + 196,883 = 196,884 but many are rather more complex algebraic functions and diagrams. The many economically drawn diagrams definitely help for those of us whose spatial intelligence lies near the norm.

So, if you find yourself interested in mathematics in general and symmetry especially then buy this book and read it.

Shooting craps - he misses. **
This was a bit dissapointing for a follow on from the Music of the primes...I didn't see the point really. It started ok but then... Sorry Marcus. Now a second edition of the primes with a much better explanation of the zeta function (a full one if he could manage it) would be worth it. The TV series was poor and left me wanting more, and so did the book, and that silly spaceship he wore on the xmas lectures...thats what happens when you commercialise education!

Shooting craps - he misses. **

This was a bit dissapointing for a follow on from the Music of the primes...I didn't see the point really. It started ok but then...

Sorry Marcus. Now a second edition of the primes with a much better explanation of the zeta function (a full one if he could manage it) would be worth it. The TV series was poor and left me wanting more, and so did the book, and that silly spaceship he wore on the xmas lectures...thats what happens when you commercialise education!

so near and yet so far **
I bought this book on recommendation, because I was interested in a popular account of the Monster group. I've finally had to give up reading it, because it ultimately turns out to be a historical review of the figures involved in the long history of the mathematics of symmetry, with virtually no actual information about symmetry. All the mathematical examples are excessively verbose, making them largely impenetrable. In his attempt to "simplify" the mathematics, Marcus Du Sautoy has succeeded in removing enough information from the problems and solutions as to make them incomprehensible. At every turn, I felt that he was on the brink of giving me the information that I was looking for, only to have my hopes dashed at the start of the next section. If you are interested in the characters in this story, this is a great book, but if you are interested in the mathematics, it's virtually worthless.

so near and yet so far **

I bought this book on recommendation, because I was interested in a popular account of the Monster group. I've finally had to give up reading it, because it ultimately turns out to be a historical review of the figures involved in the long history of the mathematics of symmetry, with virtually no actual information about symmetry. All the mathematical examples are excessively verbose, making them largely impenetrable. In his attempt to "simplify" the mathematics, Marcus Du Sautoy has succeeded in removing enough information from the problems and solutions as to make them incomprehensible. At every turn, I felt that he was on the brink of giving me the information that I was looking for, only to have my hopes dashed at the start of the next section.

If you are interested in the characters in this story, this is a great book, but if you are interested in the mathematics, it's virtually worthless.

Somewhat average and a bit self-obsessed **
Du Sautoy spends far too much time blowing his own trumpet, which is tiring. He sounds a bit like the ant among the elephants: Omar Khayyam, Tartaglia, Cardano, Ferrari, Abel, Lie, Galois... their life and achievements will be fun to read for somebody who doesn't know anything about them, but otherwise the presentation of this stuff by Du Sautoy is a rather boring rehash of what has been told many times. Let us leave Conway apart, Du Sautoy's stories about him are certainly fresher. Don't get me wrong, the book has some appeal but it is flawed. Perhaps because it is written in a dull style, with misspelled words (money grabber?), serious historical errors (museums in Ancient Greece?), etc. In terms of popularising mathematical ideas, it is as clear as mud when things get a bit hairy. Of course, the subject is not easy, but I was expecting something better and more visual. "The music of the primes" was a much better book overall, although not completely satisfactory either.

Somewhat average and a bit self-obsessed **

Du Sautoy spends far too much time blowing his own trumpet, which is tiring. He sounds a bit like the ant among the elephants: Omar Khayyam, Tartaglia, Cardano, Ferrari, Abel, Lie, Galois... their life and achievements will be fun to read for somebody who doesn't know anything about them, but otherwise the presentation of this stuff by Du Sautoy is a rather boring rehash of what has been told many times. Let us leave Conway apart, Du Sautoy's stories about him are certainly fresher.

Don't get me wrong, the book has some appeal but it is flawed. Perhaps because it is written in a dull style, with misspelled words (money grabber?), serious historical errors (museums in Ancient Greece?), etc. In terms of popularising mathematical ideas, it is as clear as mud when things get a bit hairy. Of course, the subject is not easy, but I was expecting something better and more visual.

"The music of the primes" was a much better book overall, although not completely satisfactory either.

Great bridge between the history and the cutting edge *****
Again Du Sautoy brings the somewhat dry area of mathematic history to life with his passion and eagerness to share his excitement. Du Sautoy makes accessible otherwise impassable peaks of thought in the area at hand, symmetry, and nicely interweaves this with auto-biographical ruminations and fable-like tales of mathematicians of old. The mix sometimes comes across as a little contrived, but always acts as a low effort entry point to what can be complex areas, making the book again a joy to read. Recommended for anyone with even a slight mathematical interest.

Great bridge between the history and the cutting edge *****

Again Du Sautoy brings the somewhat dry area of mathematic history to life with his passion and eagerness to share his excitement.

Du Sautoy makes accessible otherwise impassable peaks of thought in the area at hand, symmetry, and nicely interweaves this with auto-biographical ruminations and fable-like tales of mathematicians of old. The mix sometimes comes across as a little contrived, but always acts as a low effort entry point to what can be complex areas, making the book again a joy to read. Recommended for anyone with even a slight mathematical interest.

a good book on maths *****
The book symmetry and finding moonshine in one reviewers entry they said they are the same book word for word that is true because one is the American release and the other the uk release, it is the same book. It is not a surprise that the publisher in the states would not use the title finding moonshine. Prof Du sautoy does a wonderful job in communicating maths and makes me wish i knew more about maths. Well written and i would encourage those who are thinking of buying to just go out and buy it.

a good book on maths *****

The book symmetry and finding moonshine in one reviewers entry they said they are the same book word for word that is true because one is the American release and the other the uk release, it is the same book. It is not a surprise that the publisher in the states would not use the title finding moonshine. Prof Du sautoy does a wonderful job in communicating maths and makes me wish i knew more about maths. Well written and i would encourage those who are thinking of buying to just go out and buy it.

The same as Finding Moonshine, be careful *****
I had just finished "Finding Moonshine" from the same author and I ordered "Symmetry" only to find out when I received it that it was the same book. It is disappointing that it wasn't stated anywhere. Anyway the book is great

The same as Finding Moonshine, be careful *****

I had just finished "Finding Moonshine" from the same author and I ordered "Symmetry" only to find out when I received it that it was the same book. It is disappointing that it wasn't stated anywhere. Anyway the book is great

about somebodies warning *****
The book symmetry and finding moonshine in one reviewers entry they said they are the same book word for word that is true because one is the American release and the other the uk release, it is the same book. It is not a surprise that the publisher in the states would not use the title finding moonshine. Prof Du sautoy does a wonderful job in communicating maths and makes me wish i knew more about maths. Well written and i would encourage those who are thinking of buying to just go out and buy it.

about somebodies warning *****

Disappointing **
I am interested in group theory, and bought this book under the impression that it discussed simple group theory in a way that an amateur like me would be able to understand. I am sure this author could have written such a book, but this isn't it. It has been dumbed down far too much (I suspect at the insistence of the publisher). He avoids simple group theory terminology, so instead of writing about "how many groups there are with 27 elements", he has "how many objects there are with 27 symmetries", which isn't going to help anyone, and is going to confuse those who understand just a little of his subject matter. Yet he mentions zeta functions several times, though without any clue as to what they are. In chapter three he states, repeatedly, that the Alhambra palace contains examples of all 17 symmetries (he means wallpaper groups); and there are pictures of some of them. I wonder why he chose not to have a page or two illustrating all 17? This would have been interesting, or at least fun to look at, for all readers, however dumb the publisher takes them to be. The best feature of the book is not its abortive attempts to discuss mathematics, but its anecdotes about mathematicians. If these are what you want, the book is worth buying.

Disappointing **

I am interested in group theory, and bought this book under the impression that it discussed simple group theory in a way that an amateur like me would be able to understand.

I am sure this author could have written such a book, but this isn't it. It has been dumbed down far too much (I suspect at the insistence of the publisher). He avoids simple group theory terminology, so instead of writing about "how many groups there are with 27 elements", he has "how many objects there are with 27 symmetries", which isn't going to help anyone, and is going to confuse those who understand just a little of his subject matter. Yet he mentions zeta functions several times, though without any clue as to what they are.

In chapter three he states, repeatedly, that the Alhambra palace contains examples of all 17 symmetries (he means wallpaper groups); and there are pictures of some of them. I wonder why he chose not to have a page or two illustrating all 17? This would have been interesting, or at least fun to look at, for all readers, however dumb the publisher takes them to be.

The best feature of the book is not its abortive attempts to discuss mathematics, but its anecdotes about mathematicians. If these are what you want, the book is worth buying.

universal truths *****
Symmetry, A Journey Into the Patterns of Nature Marcus du Sautoy I work as an Adlerian Psychotherapist/Feldenkrais person, in a private general practice in Toronto, Canada. Every client I work with I treat as a unique ecosystem and over time an organic commonality has become apparent. I am a stranger to mathematics and a broad spectrum reader. Reading this book was a key to the magic kingdom leapfrogging the mathematics haze straight into the clear blue sky of "what the natural world has always known, perfect symmetry is hard to obtain" (pg. 67). Spend time with Fibonacci and a snail and if you know about this already take great comfort in the clarity of presentation and if it is new to you as it was to me, take great joy in a fundamental representation of a universal truth. I would glean that in his daily life Marcus du Sautoy "tries to find the logic or the pattern that helps to generate the world I see around me". I sit by his side and together, seated on the magic carpet ride that has been his life he brings me along with him as he climbs, navigates and also relates the adventures of other memorable minds that have followed their love of nature through visiting these elementary patterns. Through their and his devotion this adventure story is told and as his reader I was left to read slower and slower as the end crept nearer and nearer my not wanting the adventure to be over. Fine collaboration is evident throughout from the touch and look to the text type and just as a master engineer constructs a rollercoaster to be exciting yet safe, the editor Mitzi Angel, has so polished this work yet leaving all the texture, clarity and liveliness it deserves. "As Descartes had declared, "sense perceptions are sense deceptions"" (pg163) ..."Mathematics is about communication" (pg198) "put in too little detail and readers will have not enough directions to help them through the maze. Yet put in too much and you swamp the readers, who will then have no clear vision of where you are trying to take them." Then, (pg208) "everything must be sign posted so that the reader doesn't get lost." True to his word, I am never lost. "Symmetries in mathmatics explain fundamental question about basic objects in nature" (pg264)... "As cells double each time, symmetry is playing a crucial role in determining the possible configurations for the new cells and ultimately for the shape of our bodies...symmetry underlies life (matter)...provides nature with an arrangement which minimizes energy"(Pg266). Thalidomide produced a poison rather than a therapeutic intervention, and I learn of and appreciate the understanding of "chirality" (pg268). "Mirror neurons fire making a copy of the action" (pg281) the common sense of mathematics, saving effort, staying alive. This is an adventure story as relevant to everyday as is a sunrise, and sunset. When I think of who would love this book: artists will enjoy the Alhambra, people who love history will enjoy this take on dramatic characters we rarely appreciate, dreamers of altered dimensions, science fiction readers, and kids who have just bumped into a good teacher and are beginning a path that includes mathematics, will have a positive rave. p.s. there is no end here, just more discoveries to be revealed and waiting for you. (pg.208) ... "understanding something...you suddenly get it, you try to convey it to others, and the hardest is translating it to the printed page." In this book is an elegant read and the author has my appreciation in delivering beautiful pages. The facts you can find elsewhere, the context and wisdom is another matter. I will be bringing the other book, `The Music of the Primes' by Marcus Du Sautoy on our summer family holiday. Kathy Vance

universal truths *****

Symmetry, A Journey Into the Patterns of Nature
Marcus du Sautoy

I work as an Adlerian Psychotherapist/Feldenkrais person, in a private general practice in Toronto, Canada. Every client I work with I treat as a unique ecosystem and over time an organic commonality has become apparent.

I am a stranger to mathematics and a broad spectrum reader. Reading this book was a key to the magic kingdom leapfrogging the mathematics haze straight into the clear blue sky of "what the natural world has always known, perfect symmetry is hard to obtain" (pg. 67). Spend time with Fibonacci and a snail and if you know about this already take great comfort in the clarity of presentation and if it is new to you as it was to me, take great joy in a fundamental representation of a universal truth.

I would glean that in his daily life Marcus du Sautoy "tries to find the logic or the pattern that helps to generate the world I see around me". I sit by his side and together, seated on the magic carpet ride that has been his life he brings me along with him as he climbs, navigates and also relates the adventures of other memorable minds that have followed their love of nature through visiting these elementary patterns. Through their and his devotion this adventure story is told and as his reader I was left to read slower and slower as the end crept nearer and nearer my not wanting the adventure to be over. Fine collaboration is evident throughout from the touch and look to the text type and just as a master engineer constructs a rollercoaster to be exciting yet safe, the editor Mitzi Angel, has so polished this work yet leaving all the texture, clarity and liveliness it deserves.

"As Descartes had declared, "sense perceptions are sense deceptions"" (pg163)
..."Mathematics is about communication" (pg198) "put in too little detail and readers will have not enough directions to help them through the maze. Yet put in too much and you swamp the readers, who will then have no clear vision of where you are trying to take them." Then, (pg208) "everything must be sign posted so that the reader doesn't get lost." True to his word, I am never lost.

"Symmetries in mathmatics explain fundamental question about basic objects in nature" (pg264)... "As cells double each time, symmetry is playing a crucial role in determining the possible configurations for the new cells and ultimately for the shape of our bodies...symmetry underlies life (matter)...provides nature with an arrangement which minimizes energy"(Pg266). Thalidomide produced a poison rather than a therapeutic intervention, and I learn of and appreciate the understanding of "chirality" (pg268). "Mirror neurons fire making a copy of the action" (pg281) the common sense of mathematics, saving effort, staying alive.

This is an adventure story as relevant to everyday as is a sunrise, and sunset. When I think of who would love this book: artists will enjoy the Alhambra, people who love history will enjoy this take on dramatic characters we rarely appreciate, dreamers of altered dimensions, science fiction readers, and kids who have just bumped into a good teacher and are beginning a path that includes mathematics, will have a positive rave.

p.s. there is no end here, just more discoveries to be revealed and waiting for you. (pg.208) ... "understanding something...you suddenly get it, you try to convey it to others, and the hardest is translating it to the printed page." In this book is an elegant read and the author has my appreciation in delivering beautiful pages. The facts you can find elsewhere, the context and wisdom is another matter. I will be bringing the other book, `The Music of the Primes' by Marcus Du Sautoy on our summer family holiday.
Kathy Vance