Reviews from Amazon

The Archimedes Codex

In 1998 a mystery buyer paid over $2000000 for a very important book. There were fears that this would mean a return to the obscurity it had suffered for most of the previous century. The Archimedes Codex: Revealing The Secrets Of The World's Greatest Palimpsest tells how this did not happen. William Noel explains how he had the task of extracting information from this document. It seemed like a hopeless task: the copy of Archimedes work had been scraped of and replaced by a prayer book, what remained had been examined in detail in 1906, and the book had suffered serious deterioration since that time. Despite these problems Noel tells how modern scientific techniques have found out much that is new about Archimedes.

The other author Rievel Netz, gives an explanation of the some of the mathematics found in the codex. Netz can be a bit long-winded at times, but he does give some feeling for the excitement he felt when he saw the possibility of finding previously unknown material, for example how Archimedes may have used calculus nearly two millennia before Leibniz and Newton.

Overall this book is a fascinating read, does not require any prior knowledge, and is recommended to anyone with an interest in the links between the modern and ancient worlds.

Note: more material on this project, including images from the codex itself, can be found at www.archimedespalimsest.org

Amazon.com info

Hardcover 336 pages
ISBN: 0297645471
Salesrank: 946739
Weight:1.5 lbs

Published: 2007 Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Marketplace:New from $15.37:Used from $14.40

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Amazon.co.uk info

Hardcover 336 pages
ISBN: 0297645471
Salesrank: 184875
Weight:1.5 lbs

Published: 2007 Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Amazon price £12.34

Marketplace:New from £2.89:Used from £2.99

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Amazon.ca info

Hardcover 336 pages
ISBN: 0297645471
Salesrank: 416943
Weight:1.5 lbs

Published: 2007 McArthur & Company / Not Applicable

Amazon price CDN$ 23.91

Marketplace:New from CDN$ 19.84:Used from CDN$ 32.00

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Fascinating on many levels *****
To appreciate this book fully, you need to have some interest in the history of mathematics or early theoretical physics, as well as enjoy learning how a multidisciplinary team of conservationists, imaging and computer geeks, film makers, the CIA, Greek Mathematics translators all worked to unravel the mystery of a lost but rediscovered codex containing some of Archimedes' most brilliant material. Unfortunately the Codex is a palimpsest - medieval monks scraped off the Greek from Archimedes texts and wrote prayers on it after rebinding it in the other direction. Archimedes, Newton and Gauss are usually listed as the three greatest mathematicians (though Euler and a few others are up there as well). If you have not been exposed to Archimedes before, this book will give you an idea of why he is among the greats since he was so ahead of his own time and his results anticipate the calculus and mathematical physics.

Fascinating on many levels *****

To appreciate this book fully, you need to have some interest in the history of mathematics or early theoretical physics, as well as enjoy learning how a multidisciplinary team of conservationists, imaging and computer geeks, film makers, the CIA, Greek Mathematics translators all worked to unravel the mystery of a lost but rediscovered codex containing some of Archimedes' most brilliant material.

Unfortunately the Codex is a palimpsest - medieval monks scraped off the Greek from Archimedes texts and wrote prayers on it after rebinding it in the other direction.

Archimedes, Newton and Gauss are usually listed as the three greatest mathematicians (though Euler and a few others are up there as well). If you have not been exposed to Archimedes before, this book will give you an idea of why he is among the greats since he was so ahead of his own time and his results anticipate the calculus and mathematical physics.

Amazing - Math & History & Mystery! *****
I honestly never felt particularly inclined to read a book on math let alone pick one up after college - however, I do love a good mystery story. It took the brilliant work of two authors, each writing alternating chapters, to fully captivate me enough to read this wonderful book "The Archimedes Codex"! I am so glad I did; I would have missed something very special. This is not just a math book or a science book or a history book - it is a book of mysteries and so much more. The book not only is a work of great research and details it also reaches out to grab that part of your higher self that longs for more understanding. The story about how this ancient information is saved and passed on through history and how it is discovered and restored is a most fascinating tale. The scientific and mathematical genius of Archimedes is fully evident. To be honest, as a non-math major in college, there were some parts of this book that I was not fully able to grasp the bigger meanings - but this story is presented in such a way by the authors, that this made no difference. I did understand the enormity of what these finding were. Entertaining, yet educational and inspiring work! Reading this book actually encourages a part of me to go back to college and take a few higher math classes. This book made math exciting! This story will fully engage the reader. I think a good novelist could turn this true story into a wondrous tale; it has all the elements of a great story! I fully recommend this FIVE STAR BOOK for all those with a curious mind and a love of real life mysteries.

Amazing - Math & History & Mystery! *****

I honestly never felt particularly inclined to read a book on math let alone pick one up after college - however, I do love a good mystery story. It took the brilliant work of two authors, each writing alternating chapters, to fully captivate me enough to read this wonderful book "The Archimedes Codex"! I am so glad I did; I would have missed something very special. This is not just a math book or a science book or a history book - it is a book of mysteries and so much more.

The book not only is a work of great research and details it also reaches out to grab that part of your higher self that longs for more understanding. The story about how this ancient information is saved and passed on through history and how it is discovered and restored is a most fascinating tale. The scientific and mathematical genius of Archimedes is fully evident. To be honest, as a non-math major in college, there were some parts of this book that I was not fully able to grasp the bigger meanings - but this story is presented in such a way by the authors, that this made no difference. I did understand the enormity of what these finding were.

Entertaining, yet educational and inspiring work! Reading this book actually encourages a part of me to go back to college and take a few higher math classes. This book made math exciting! This story will fully engage the reader. I think a good novelist could turn this true story into a wondrous tale; it has all the elements of a great story!

I fully recommend this FIVE STAR BOOK for all those with a curious mind and a love of real life mysteries.

Two Fascinating Books In One ****
The format chosen by the two authors of this book is that they each wrote alternating chapters. One author, a curator of manuscripts and rare books wrote the chapters mainly dealing with the nature of manuscripts and codices, the organization of the project, the objectives at hand, the logistics, the methods used, the technology, etc. The other author, a professor of ancient sciences, concentrated mainly on the reading, deciphering and mathematical interpretation of the ancient writings and their meaning in terms of what we know about Archimedes. Although alternating chapters have different focuses, they blend easily one into the other without any significant discontinuity. Both writing styles are clear, friendly and authoritative. The mathematical expositions are generally accessible, although in some cases the terminology used is more of an ancient style than what one would find in a modern mathematics textbook; as a result, some arguments are difficult to follow. I have learned much from this book: about Archimedes' accomplishments, about ancient manuscripts and codices, about methods and apparatuses used to image ancient texts and about the incredible complexity of the whole project. It is difficult to estimate which types of readers would be most interested in this book since it contains so much that could be of interest to different people, i.e., ancient and medieval history, history of mathematics, modern technology, physics, detective work, etc. But, it is likely that readers interested in any of the above subjects would enjoy it.

Two Fascinating Books In One ****

The format chosen by the two authors of this book is that they each wrote alternating chapters. One author, a curator of manuscripts and rare books wrote the chapters mainly dealing with the nature of manuscripts and codices, the organization of the project, the objectives at hand, the logistics, the methods used, the technology, etc. The other author, a professor of ancient sciences, concentrated mainly on the reading, deciphering and mathematical interpretation of the ancient writings and their meaning in terms of what we know about Archimedes. Although alternating chapters have different focuses, they blend easily one into the other without any significant discontinuity. Both writing styles are clear, friendly and authoritative. The mathematical expositions are generally accessible, although in some cases the terminology used is more of an ancient style than what one would find in a modern mathematics textbook; as a result, some arguments are difficult to follow. I have learned much from this book: about Archimedes' accomplishments, about ancient manuscripts and codices, about methods and apparatuses used to image ancient texts and about the incredible complexity of the whole project. It is difficult to estimate which types of readers would be most interested in this book since it contains so much that could be of interest to different people, i.e., ancient and medieval history, history of mathematics, modern technology, physics, detective work, etc. But, it is likely that readers interested in any of the above subjects would enjoy it.

Great Subject - Better Writing Needed ***
There is a spectacular story here. It needed far better authors to tell it. The authors of this work, Reviel Netz and William Noel have an absolutely spectacular subject. Literally over two thousand years in the making. As many of the other reviews have noted, this book changes what we know about the history of mathematics and science. The problem is that the writing in this book is just weak and at times pedantic. It seems to skip around from subject to subject. With such an amazing subject, they should have done so much more - or gotton someone who could. Just take a look at Mark Kurlansky's "Salt: A World History" or "Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World." Two of perhaps the most boring subjects, and yet Kurlansky makes the stories of their history come alive. Here we have opposite: a story that should leap off the page without the quality of writing needed to make it happen.

Great Subject - Better Writing Needed ***

There is a spectacular story here. It needed far better authors to tell it.

The authors of this work, Reviel Netz and William Noel have an absolutely spectacular subject. Literally over two thousand years in the making. As many of the other reviews have noted, this book changes what we know about the history of mathematics and science. The problem is that the writing in this book is just weak and at times pedantic. It seems to skip around from subject to subject. With such an amazing subject, they should have done so much more - or gotton someone who could. Just take a look at Mark Kurlansky's "Salt: A World History" or "Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World." Two of perhaps the most boring subjects, and yet Kurlansky makes the stories of their history come alive. Here we have opposite: a story that should leap off the page without the quality of writing needed to make it happen.

ARCHIMEDES DISCOVERED NOTHING NEW!!! *
EVERYTHING that Archimedes is supposed to have "discovered" already existed in Africa, thousands of years before "WHITE" Greeks existed. The Ancient Egyptians "THE MASTER BUILDERS" had already discovered "ALL" of the Arts & Sciences. The Greeks & Romans were students of the Ancient Black Egyptians, before they destroyed the Egyptian Civilization by raping the women, killing the Priests, forbidding the speaking of the language & burning the Library of Alexandria. Ask yourself this question, if the Greeks were such Great Mathematicians why did they go all the way to Africa to set up this Library, and where are their Pyramids? Huh? Africa & Africans were the fountainhead of knowledge, at a time when the Whites had recently emerged from the Caves of & Hillsides of Europe, where they were walking on all fours and eating their meat raw, not having the knowledge of fire. Go back and read the ancient historical accounts by Herodotus, where he describes not only the Scientific Wonders of the Ancient Egyptians, but also describes their race as being of "Burnt Skin & Woolly Hair, & that they describe themselves as "THE" Most Ancient of Peoples. WHY ARE THERE NO ANCIENT RUINS IN WHITE CIVILIZATIONS BUILT BY WHITE PEOPLES? (Stonehenge and other monuments in Europe were built by Blacks who peopled what is called Europe millions of years before the first Whites arrived. Google "Grimaldi Negro", the first inhabitants of Europe. Also see "The Making of the White Man" by Paul Guthrie & "Black Spark, White Fire". THIS IS THE SAME TYPE OF RACIST LOGIC THAT POSITS THAT CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DISCOVERED AMERICA, WHEN EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT BOTH INDIANS & BLACKS WERE HERE FIRST, BUILDING PYRAMID CIVILIZATIONS. For further edification read: "The African Origin of Civilization" by Cheik Anta Diop (Renowned Senegalese Physicist & Linguist), "Stolen Legacy" by George M. James (Greek Scholar) & "Black Athena" by Martin Bernal (which shows that Early Greece was peopled by two successive waves of African colonization who laid the foundation of both Minoan & Greek Civilization. Take a close look at the Minoans, they are of African stock, as were the early Greeks prior to the invasions of the Barbaric White Dorians, who brought no Civilizing influence to Greece. Racist White historical analysis cannot replace cold hard facts such as the Pyramid Civilizations appearing only in Black Civilizations such as Egypt, Mexico etc. The Pyramid culture in the Americas begins with the Thick Lipped, Broad Nosed, Wooly Haired Olmec Civilization, "THE MOTHER CIVILIZATION" of the Americas. FURTHERMORE, WHOSE TO SAY THAT ARCHIMEDES WAS WHITE, AS GREEK CIVILIZATION AT THAT TIME, HAD BLACKS AS WELL AS WHITES. Truth crushed to Earth will Rise Again!!!

ARCHIMEDES DISCOVERED NOTHING NEW!!! *

EVERYTHING that Archimedes is supposed to have "discovered" already existed in Africa, thousands of years before "WHITE" Greeks existed. The Ancient Egyptians "THE MASTER BUILDERS" had already discovered "ALL" of the Arts & Sciences. The Greeks & Romans were students of the Ancient Black Egyptians, before they destroyed the Egyptian Civilization by raping the women, killing the Priests, forbidding the speaking of the language & burning the Library of Alexandria. Ask yourself this question, if the Greeks were such Great Mathematicians why did they go all the way to Africa to set up this Library, and where are their Pyramids? Huh?

Africa & Africans were the fountainhead of knowledge, at a time when the Whites had recently emerged from the Caves of & Hillsides of Europe, where they were walking on all fours and eating their meat raw, not having the knowledge of fire. Go back and read the ancient historical accounts by Herodotus, where he describes not only the Scientific Wonders of the Ancient Egyptians, but also describes their race as being of "Burnt Skin & Woolly Hair, & that they describe themselves as "THE" Most Ancient of Peoples.

WHY ARE THERE NO ANCIENT RUINS IN WHITE CIVILIZATIONS BUILT BY WHITE PEOPLES? (Stonehenge and other monuments in Europe were built by Blacks who peopled what is called Europe millions of years before the first Whites arrived. Google "Grimaldi Negro", the first inhabitants of Europe. Also see "The Making of the White Man" by Paul Guthrie & "Black Spark, White Fire".

THIS IS THE SAME TYPE OF RACIST LOGIC THAT POSITS THAT CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS DISCOVERED AMERICA, WHEN EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT BOTH INDIANS & BLACKS WERE HERE FIRST, BUILDING PYRAMID CIVILIZATIONS.

For further edification read: "The African Origin of Civilization" by Cheik Anta Diop (Renowned Senegalese Physicist & Linguist), "Stolen Legacy" by George M. James (Greek Scholar) & "Black Athena" by Martin Bernal (which shows that Early Greece was peopled by two successive waves of African colonization who laid the foundation of both Minoan & Greek Civilization. Take a close look at the Minoans, they are of African stock, as were the early Greeks prior to the invasions of the Barbaric White Dorians, who brought no Civilizing influence to Greece.

Racist White historical analysis cannot replace cold hard facts such as the Pyramid Civilizations appearing only in Black Civilizations such as Egypt, Mexico etc. The Pyramid culture in the Americas begins with the Thick Lipped, Broad Nosed, Wooly Haired Olmec Civilization, "THE MOTHER CIVILIZATION" of the Americas.

FURTHERMORE, WHOSE TO SAY THAT ARCHIMEDES WAS WHITE, AS GREEK CIVILIZATION AT THAT TIME, HAD BLACKS AS WELL AS WHITES.

Truth crushed to Earth will Rise Again!!!

Ancient math for the math non-lovers ****
Archimedes was one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, but many of his writings have long been lost to us. We've had some medieval translations of a few of his works, but nothing original. That is, until now. In 1998, a unique book went up for auction in New York: a 13th century prayer book, handwritten by some monk back in the day. But beneath the words that this monk copied were the words of Archimedes in their original Greek. The Archimedes Codex, by Reviel Netz and William Noel, tells the story of the purchase of this codex, and the nine year (and still ongoing) attempt to get as much of Archimedes original text from this document as possible. It's a fascinating work, alternating between the history of the codex and revealing what the codex says, and thus it's of alternating interest to the reader. It's an interesting way to write a book, and since Math is not my area of interest, I found Noel's history a lot more interesting than Netz's math. However, Netz's enthusiasm about the entire project is quite infectious. He talks about Archimedes theories, how the study of mathematics changed from ancient times to more modern times, especially in light of what the Codex has revealed. One interesting thing Netz discusses is that the ancients did not use infinity as a mathematical object, but then he shows how Archimedes seems to approach the concept even though he never names it. The math is relatively easy to follow, though I did skim a large part of it. Netz provides plenty of diagrams as demonstration. Yes, mathematical writing can get dry at times, but Netz's enthusiasm for the project shines through in his prose, making these chapters a lot easier to read. For me, though, the main area of interest in The Archimedes Codex is Noel's history. He does extensive investigations and theorizing into how the Codex came into being in Constantinople in the 6th century, what the monk who copied the book may have been thinking, and how the overwriting of ancient manuscripts generally occurred. Along with the history, Noel provides a detailed account of the process put in place to reveal the hidden secrets of the Codex. This is impressive in itself, with numerous people putting in a lot of time and effort into imaging the text, coming up with ideas to make the text clearer and easier to read. We see the setbacks and disappointments, the points where Noel thought they wouldn't be able to go forward. Noel's passion for the Codex comes through almost as much as Netz's does, but Noel delves more into the problems that he has had to deal with. The contributions of both authors make The Archimedes Codex what it is. While the math part can get a little slow at times, overall the topic is a fascinating one and both Netz and Noel are able to entice the reader to follow along with them on this unknown trail (whether mathematical or historical). Netz is almost giddy at times as something is revealed in the Codex. This book is a definite must for any math fans out there, but it's also good for those with a more historical bent. You can get past the math with relative ease, and enjoy a historical search for the roots of book written over a thousand years ago. Whichever way you go, you can't go wrong with The Archimedes Codex. David Roy

Ancient math for the math non-lovers ****

Archimedes was one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, but many of his writings have long been lost to us. We've had some medieval translations of a few of his works, but nothing original. That is, until now. In 1998, a unique book went up for auction in New York: a 13th century prayer book, handwritten by some monk back in the day. But beneath the words that this monk copied were the words of Archimedes in their original Greek. The Archimedes Codex, by Reviel Netz and William Noel, tells the story of the purchase of this codex, and the nine year (and still ongoing) attempt to get as much of Archimedes original text from this document as possible. It's a fascinating work, alternating between the history of the codex and revealing what the codex says, and thus it's of alternating interest to the reader.

It's an interesting way to write a book, and since Math is not my area of interest, I found Noel's history a lot more interesting than Netz's math. However, Netz's enthusiasm about the entire project is quite infectious. He talks about Archimedes theories, how the study of mathematics changed from ancient times to more modern times, especially in light of what the Codex has revealed. One interesting thing Netz discusses is that the ancients did not use infinity as a mathematical object, but then he shows how Archimedes seems to approach the concept even though he never names it. The math is relatively easy to follow, though I did skim a large part of it. Netz provides plenty of diagrams as demonstration. Yes, mathematical writing can get dry at times, but Netz's enthusiasm for the project shines through in his prose, making these chapters a lot easier to read.

For me, though, the main area of interest in The Archimedes Codex is Noel's history. He does extensive investigations and theorizing into how the Codex came into being in Constantinople in the 6th century, what the monk who copied the book may have been thinking, and how the overwriting of ancient manuscripts generally occurred.

Along with the history, Noel provides a detailed account of the process put in place to reveal the hidden secrets of the Codex. This is impressive in itself, with numerous people putting in a lot of time and effort into imaging the text, coming up with ideas to make the text clearer and easier to read. We see the setbacks and disappointments, the points where Noel thought they wouldn't be able to go forward. Noel's passion for the Codex comes through almost as much as Netz's does, but Noel delves more into the problems that he has had to deal with.

The contributions of both authors make The Archimedes Codex what it is. While the math part can get a little slow at times, overall the topic is a fascinating one and both Netz and Noel are able to entice the reader to follow along with them on this unknown trail (whether mathematical or historical). Netz is almost giddy at times as something is revealed in the Codex.

This book is a definite must for any math fans out there, but it's also good for those with a more historical bent. You can get past the math with relative ease, and enjoy a historical search for the roots of book written over a thousand years ago. Whichever way you go, you can't go wrong with The Archimedes Codex.

David Roy

The extraordinary story of the exploration of one of the most important books of all time *****
The Archimedes Codex is the story of one of the few remaining documents containing the work of the Sicilian thinker Archimedes. It is the story of the book itself and its convoluted history. Without giving much away, the codex is a palimpsest. This is a book on parchment that has had the original writing scraped off and the material refolded and written on again with new text, in this case a mediaeval prayerbook. It explains how conservation work is done and then explores the very latest in imaging technology. But most important of all it explores Archimedes' ideas and physics and mathematics. This book should be read by anyone who wants to know about the history of thought, mathematics or physics, who is interested in modern imaging techniques, who studies ancient thinkers or who enjoys a story of human endeavour in the face of a complex and ever-changing task. It is also a lesson to the very rich about how they might better use their money. The un-named buyer of the book was one such, but being a man of perception and taste, he gave the authors what was in effect a blank cheque to discover what they could from it. In effect he was a patron in the best ancient tradition. By his foresight and generosity we now have access to the ideas in one of the most important books in human history. Because it was a non-commercial venture, the images and other data that were created are available free on the website at www.archimedespalimpsest.org. In different hands this story could have been dull. However, in a chatty but rigorous style, the authors tell the story of the purchase of the codex, its disbinding and experimental imaging and the discoveries that were made, mostly in the sequence that they happened. They get across their own feelings of joy and frustration, and how their preconceptions were proved wrong in striking and exciting ways. It is a joy to read about some of the greatest minds in their respective fields giving their spare time and their great ingenuity over a period of years to probe the ideas and mind of a man whom the authors assert was the greatest scientist of all time. Their excitement and other emotions ooze from the pages. I have taught physics for much of my life. This book showed me how ignorant I was in this field. I used to say to my students that much of early 'modern' scientific study was 'merely' the restatement and examination of earlier works in Greek. I now know not only that these original thinkers were much more advanced than I, and even the authors of this book, thought, but that Archimedes' work in particular was used directly by Galileo, Newton and others. Indeed one great irony, literally as well as metaphorically as the reader will discover, was that Archimedes' very ideas were used in this study to produce readable images and to decode them.

The extraordinary story of the exploration of one of the most important books of all time *****

The Archimedes Codex is the story of one of the few remaining documents containing the work of the Sicilian thinker Archimedes. It is the story of the book itself and its convoluted history. Without giving much away, the codex is a palimpsest. This is a book on parchment that has had the original writing scraped off and the material refolded and written on again with new text, in this case a mediaeval prayerbook. It explains how conservation work is done and then explores the very latest in imaging technology. But most important of all it explores Archimedes' ideas and physics and mathematics. This book should be read by anyone who wants to know about the history of thought, mathematics or physics, who is interested in modern imaging techniques, who studies ancient thinkers or who enjoys a story of human endeavour in the face of a complex and ever-changing task.

It is also a lesson to the very rich about how they might better use their money. The un-named buyer of the book was one such, but being a man of perception and taste, he gave the authors what was in effect a blank cheque to discover what they could from it. In effect he was a patron in the best ancient tradition. By his foresight and generosity we now have access to the ideas in one of the most important books in human history. Because it was a non-commercial venture, the images and other data that were created are available free on the website at www.archimedespalimpsest.org.

In different hands this story could have been dull. However, in a chatty but rigorous style, the authors tell the story of the purchase of the codex, its disbinding and experimental imaging and the discoveries that were made, mostly in the sequence that they happened. They get across their own feelings of joy and frustration, and how their preconceptions were proved wrong in striking and exciting ways. It is a joy to read about some of the greatest minds in their respective fields giving their spare time and their great ingenuity over a period of years to probe the ideas and mind of a man whom the authors assert was the greatest scientist of all time. Their excitement and other emotions ooze from the pages.

I have taught physics for much of my life. This book showed me how ignorant I was in this field. I used to say to my students that much of early 'modern' scientific study was 'merely' the restatement and examination of earlier works in Greek. I now know not only that these original thinkers were much more advanced than I, and even the authors of this book, thought, but that Archimedes' work in particular was used directly by Galileo, Newton and others. Indeed one great irony, literally as well as metaphorically as the reader will discover, was that Archimedes' very ideas were used in this study to produce readable images and to decode them.