I am looking for a recommendation for a book on Sacred Geometry - there seem to be quite a few out there (i combed B&N and Amazon). It is for a xmas gift for my nephew, a genius level 13 year old who would have no problem with something a little more mathematical and involved. In fact, the ideal book I am looking for would have a more rational and mathematical rather than mystical slant, if such a thing exists!

If it looks good, I might even order one for myself. Any suggestions?

Cheers,

JBArk

If he is a genius level 13 year old, I would give him stuff on real geometry instead of potentially really dubious stuff on Sacred Geometry. For example an introductory book in Euclidian geometry

He's already reading that stuff in school and learning it on his own. I want to spark his imagination without launching him on the path to some new agey cult . And yes, push him into the contemplation of the infinite, of the ubiquity of binary relations in the universe, of never-ending loops of Hofstadterian recursion and yeah, how to see past the lint in it and gaze at his navel in wonder and awe.

Still a lot of interesting stuff in "sacred geometry" (I know, I cringe at the term too), like the fibonacci sequence and the golden ratio and how they relate to natural phenomena like galaxies and seashells, and to art from Leonardo da Vinci to Mondrian and hell, the rule of thirds of composition too! And well, yes again, the flower of life is pretty intriguing, but that's as far as I'll go!

So wary, but I figure there has to be something not to fringey along this line, no?

Cheers,

JBArk

This book isn't about geometry, but I recieved it when I was 13 and it completely blew my mind. Its called Gods Debris. Its incredibly thought provoking. I highly highly suggest it.

Read it three times. So has my nephew. Have you read his follow-up book, The Religion War? Exceptional also. He is the creator of the Dilbert cartoon if you didn't already know.

JBArk

When I was younger I was blown away by James Gleick's Chaos. I'm sure there are more up to date books on chaos theory and fractals... I think this could be interesting to kids because it shows the principles behind stuff we see every day, like the organization of clouds and trees. It also is rich with a sense of the infinite.

http://www.amazon.com/Beginners...thematical/dp/0060926716

I like this book. It goes through the numbers 1-10, and also 12, in order. For each number it teaches how to draw the shape, using only compass and pencil. Then it shows examples from nature, culture/mythology/turns of phrase.

IDK, if you read it looking for new agey stuff to get annoyed at, you might find some....then again, nothing mystical is presented as fact--but references from mythology and religion will be made. I think the books focus is on your what you're looking for--nautilus shells, astronomical formations--the poetry and awe of nature.

The author offers the term "symbolic geometry", for anyone who dislike the term "sacred geometry".

That's actually one I had perused. Seems to ride the line but be palatable. Until you read the 1 and 2 star reviews, but those are always as dubious as the 5 star ones.

JBArk

I have not read religion wars, I have been wanting to. I got the opportunity to meet Scott Adams while he was writing Religion War. Very delightful.

I lost my copy when I was half way through at the same time as I lost my part time job so i couldn't afford another and so never finished it...

Godel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter is another, but I think I will wait a few years for that ones. Helps to know at least two of the eponymous luminaries.

I should rename the title of this thread to "suggestions for a book gift for my brilliant and easily bored but endlessly curious nephew."

Last Christmas I bought him a lump of Shiitake mycelium in the form of a grow kit. He watched a few grow then wondered why it shrivelled up and turned green. Apparently, as of 2 weeks ago, it was still on his bureau... Pf tek can wait.

JBArk

Have you ever seen Hawking's Universe In A Nutshell?

As a kid I remember seeing Godel Escher Bach on the coffee table and really tripping out on the cover art. But yeah, Hofstaeder is probably not for junior high kids.

No. i"ll look into it though. Good for a bright kid, I assume?

I'd recommend The Fourth Dimension by Rudy Rucker, I remember reading it as a kid and it was a real mind bender.

My housemate (5 Dimensional Nick) has this book on his shelf and recommends it highly... "How The World Is Made... The Story of Creation According to SACRED GEOMETRY" by John Mitchell (with Allan Brown).

http://hqinfo.blogspot.c...ell-sacred-geometry.html

Some good suggestions here. I have opened a few tabs in my browser and will check out these suggestions - I guess I have to move quickly if I want a book here by Xmas!!

JBArk

Just perused the amazon "look inside" version - seems quite impressive and simply written. There seem to be quite a few puzzle answers at the end of the page sample, so imagine a large portion of the book to be puzzles. I think he'd love this! It's in my cart.

Another of his books, Infinity and the Mind, looks fascinating and well researched. It is also in my cart. Thanks for pointing this guy out - I had heard of Rudy Rucker before, but had never really looked into him.

Cheers,

JBArk