Ron EglashAfrican Fractals: Modern Computing and Indigenous Design: Written by Ron Eglash, 1999 Edition, Publisher: Rutgers University Press [Paperback]

This is a good book so far as the text goes, but the pictures are very disappointing.The text is an interesting review of fractals, mostly familiar territory but with some new insights. The biggest 'new insight' for me was the African strand to the story. In so many ways Ron Eglash shows fractal ideas turning up in African arts and communities. It is well written, thought provoking and deeply interesting.However, the pictures are all monochrome, and not even good quality monochrome. For example, I have a length of Ghanaian cloth at home which is woven in gorgeous, vibrant and contrasting colours. It has the scaling patterns explained in this book. The text tells me a lot that I did not know about this beautiful piece of weaving and adds to my appreciation of it. The illustration accompanying the text, by contrast, lacks contrast. It is a dark and murky black and white photo in poor focus. At every turn, whether showing sculptures or village landscapes, the intelligent, lively text is accompanied by dull and unattractive photography.Clearly the cost of full colour illustrations would be hard to bear for a book which is unlikely to have massive sales. But it would improve the book enormously to have better pictures. Even getting 'monochrome in good focus' would be a step forward.Five stars for the writing, only one for the pictures.

Keep up the good work.

C'est la première fois que je lis un livre qui fasse une représentation mathématique des connaissances (architectures, design, cosmologies, etc.) africaines.

perfetto cosi come sia presenta nella descrizione. consegna effettuata nei tempi previsti, articolo ben protetto.dal punto di vista dei contenuti .. il libro è molto bello! sicuramente da consigliare

I had Ron Eglash as a professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Discussing and analyzing aspects of this book, including self-organization in general, was very interesting and valuable to say the least. The book makes no assumptions in knowledge and will cleanly bring in the topic of fractals in african culture. I had read the book the winter break before taking the course and had no difficulty understanding the material even as a freshman. The concept is quite intriguing and shatters many of the held perceptions of "the hierarchy of mathematics." Ron Eglash is a great man and I know he loves talking with people that share similar interests in mathematics or cybernetics.

I have used this book several semesters for teaching philosophy of science, social science methods, and Southern African political economy. It quickly demonstrates that the colonizers understood little or nothing about 'messy, irregular' African villages; it was Euclidean geometry which kept them from seeing. African engineering using fractals, such as the fractal-measured fence weave to match the wind, is amazing. We still have very much to learn from African peoples and this book gets Americans started on a journey long past due. Read this book if you want a different way of viewing the world, from hairstyles to sculpture to urban planning.