Fractals

Rating:
Summary: What an incredibly book!!
Review: I don't know enough about the mathematics of fractals to agree with the reader below who points out the author's lack of qualifications, but even with small mistakes like those, the book is a terrific introduction that requires no technical background. The author does an excellent job explaining not just how fractals were discovered and how to calculate them, but also how artists, writers, poets, and scientist use this information to explain and interpret the world around them. Most books I've read on fractals have a narrow focus. Also, with so many illustrations (this is a gorgeous book), layman explanations and far reaching applications, even the average reader can appreciate the beauty and power of fractals. I could not put it down and then had to start all over again!

Rating:
Summary: Patterns to Inspire - A Captivating Look into Fractals
Review: This book brings a comprehensive and visually intriguing approach to the study of fractal geometry and the chaos theory. Through thought provoking imagery and discernible explanations & comparisons, John Briggs has sparked my curiosity where I now look more closely at the world around me. I believe this book is intended to captivate those with the ability to visualize and appreciate the aesthetics and interconnectedness of the arts, sciences and the natural phenomena that surrounds us. An insightful & visually stimulating read!

Rating:
Summary: Don't buy this book
Review: This book says absolutely nothing. It has a few good pictures (the best one is one the cover by the way), but the text is utterly worthless and uninformative. My favorite quote from the book is "Nonlinear means not linear." Really? Don't waste your money. Now I understand why I found it at the used bookstore.

Rating:
Summary: Don't buy this book
Review: This book says absolutely nothing. It has a few good pictures (the best one is one the cover by the way), but the text is utterly worthless and uninformative. My favorite quote from the book is "Nonlinear means not linear." Really? Don't waste your money. Now I understand why I found it at the used bookstore.

Rating:
Summary: OK
Review: This book was OK---but it had more fractals in nature and not so much in the way of computer-generated fractal art which is what I was looking for. Not bad if you can find it used.

Rating:
Summary: Great Photos, Poor Content
Review: This is a fantastic source of images on the subject of fractals, but not a great source of learning. Most books on math and science are difficult for the general reader; few authors (like Isaac Asimov) can make complex things easily understood. But the author of this book is, in my opinion, doing the public a disservice by oversimplifying the subject. The explanations underestimate the public's ability to think, and even include a number of things which are either dead wrong or made-up! The subject of fractals is still new, and there are recently more books available to explain fractals to the general public. Again, this is a great source of images, if that's what you're looking for, but look for another source if you want to undersatnd and appreciate this incredible and important topic.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful and informative
Review: You will not learn how to make a fractal in this book, but it will make you be interested in the field. The pictures are really a marvelous example of fractals and their explanation is just nice. I've bought one for me and one as a present.

Rating:
Summary: No math, good as an introduction
Review: You will not learn how to make a fractal in this book, but it will make you be interested in the field. The pictures are really a marvelous example of fractals and their explanation is just nice. I've bought one for me and one as a present.