Explain this
The Platonic Solids and Some Others
How the publisher describes it:
“In his introduction, John Parker says that he hopes that some of Plato’s admiration for the beauty and symmetry of these solids will communicate itself to his readers.”
Review by Jonny Griffiths
In brief:
t would be wrong to see this book as groundbreaking in its originality: I would guess most of the material here is fairly well-known, but this collection is still bound to include some new and helpful ideas for everyone. John Parker says his desire is not to replace Cundy and Rollett’s famous book, Mathematical Models (Tarquin, 1981) but to complement it.
“With great thoroughness, he examines how to construct, stellate, transform, truncate, dissect”
In his introduction, John Parker says that he hopes that some of Plato’s admiration for the beauty and symmetry of these solids will communicate itself to his readers, and indeed, he succeeded handsomely with me. John Parker’s concern to convey a proper respect and accuracy in dealing with these three-dimensional artefacts comes through on every page. With great thoroughness, he examines how to construct, stellate, transform, truncate, dissect and journey across the surface of these various solids.
There are lots of methods for constructing a cube, including a ‘Christmas tree’ net, and symmetries, duality and the golden ratio receive careful attention along the way. Problems are posed for the reader too, and the diagrams throughout are sharp and clean. The interrelationships between solids are especially well discussed.
It would be wrong to see this book as groundbreaking in its originality: I would guess most of the material here is fairly well-known, but this collection is still bound to include some new and helpful ideas for everyone. John Parker says his desire is not to replace Cundy and Rollett’s famous book, Mathematical Models (Tarquin, 1981) but to complement it.
It should also be said that there is little overlap here with the excellent recent ATM publication Shapes in Space by Peter Cromwell, which takes quite a different approach to these topics.
Jonny Griffiths • Mathematics Department at Paston College, North Walsham, Norfolk, UK
Paperback: 220 pages
Publisher: Cressar Publications (1 Feb 2004)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0953539911
ISBN-13: 978-0953539918
Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16 x 1.6 cm
