Art and Science

Rating:
Summary: a little too basic
Review: Strossberg has selected a fascinating topic for her book, however, she fails to provide sufficient information to make her points cohesive and meaningful. I was hoping to use this book as a resource for teachers to integrate art into their science and mathematics lessons, however, I think they would just find it frustrating. Strossberg throws out a lot of quick connections between art and science, but never tells the reader enough to fully understand the concepts. Have fun with the pictures, but don't expect to learn very much.

Rating:
Summary: Deepen and broaden your tastes
Review: This book was delicious: it provided great illustrations and spun a web of many connections between art and science as they developed over centuries. The author admits that she couldn't possibly "tell the complete story," but she does a fine job bringing forward many interesting and stimulating points. Art began primarily as practical techniques, what we might call engineering today. Science largely grew out of practical arts, through efforts to create practical goods such as pottery, buildings, and communication devices. So the two fields wind around each other through time, with no clear boundary until perhaps modern times. In fact, the recent separating of art from science, primarily as a result of economic rewards accruing to practical knowledge, creates a relatively new rift. It's likely that technology will continue to flow from both sources, as in virtual reality and desktop manufacturing, so it's unlikely that art and science will grow totally apart.
Whereas the earlier reviewer, who had great knowledge of the arts, found little of pedagogical value, I have very limited background in the arts and found the treatment informative and enjoyable. I've recommended the book to several friends. If you are looking for a story that ties together a great deal of human history and learning, this is a great read and a delight on the eyes.