Euclid's Window

The Story of Geometry from Parallel Lines to Hyperspace

By: Leonard Mlodinow

Narrated by: Robert Blumenfeld

Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Through Euclid's Window Leonard Mlodinow brilliantly and delightfully leads us on a journey through five revolutions in geometry, from the Greek concept of parallel lines to the latest notions of hyperspace. Here is an altogether new, refreshing, alternative history of math revealing how simple questions anyone might ask about space -- in the living room or in some other galaxy -- have been the hidden engine of the highest achievements in science and technology.

Based on Mlodinow's extensive historical research; his studies alongside colleagues such as Richard Feynman and Kip Thorne; and interviews with leading physicists and mathematicians such as Murray Gell-Mann, Edward Witten, and Brian Greene, Euclid's Window is an extraordinary blend of rigorous, authoritative investigation and accessible, good-humored storytelling that makes a stunningly original argument asserting the primacy of geometry. For those who have looked through Euclid's Window, no space, no thing, and no time will ever be quite the same.

©2009 Leonard Mlodinow (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Surprisingly readable for a subject so complex

I learned a great deal about the history of geometry, which was unexpectedly interesting, and string theory. Most surprising was the quality of writing. Dr. Mlodinow is clever frequently funny, and graciously easy to understand, even for us non-physicists.

Pointless Examples

While this book is full of interesting information the authors examples make the point he is trying to make overly complicated because he insists on injecting his version of humor into almost every one leaving the example hard and at times almost impossible to understand.

The book would have been much better if the author could have used some restraint in trying to prove his whit every 30 seconds.

World history and math together.

Don't try to follow the equations, follow the story. A second listen is worth your time.

Good mathematics, questionable history

I liked hearing about the more modern concepts toward the end of the book, and it's clear that the author is an expert in these areas, but I found that the history presented early-on was colored by the author's (rather obvious) anti-religious biases. For example, he repeats myths about Hypatia and the Library of Alexandria's destruction that show a lack of careful research about current scholarship regarding that time period. Instances like this make me question the historicity of other aspects of the book. If you are interested in the *history* of science, take this book with a grain of salt. If you are interested in hearing explanations of how some modern physics concepts (e.g. relativity, string theory) came about and how they're related, this is a good introductory resource. Basically, this is a book written by a physicist and clearly not a historian.

Keeping it real

What did you love best about Euclid's Window?

I liked the way the author covers the history of discoveries in physics and mathematics from Pythagoras and Euclid to Einstein and beyond. I'm just a layman and I actually got the gist of most of the math and physics. I now understand how the leap to hyperbolic geometry helped Einstein and others to describe relativity and how the universe works. The author explains how math and physics evolved through the efforts of many great thinkers leading up to Einstein. And he finishes with the current state of string theory.

What other book might you compare Euclid's Window to and why?

I also liked About Time and The Clockwork Universe because they give you a historical perspective of our understanding of the universe and our place in it.

What about Robert Blumenfeld’s performance did you like?

He read very well.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Provides structure for understanding math

Loved it. I have always enjoyed math, but I have a much greater appreciation for it now that I understand the back stories involved in its discovery. I like the way the author uses simple analogies to explain technical concepts. The book provided a means to structure certain math concepts in my head and encourages me to find structure for other match and science ideas.

Amazing match of book and narrator

I’ve enjoyed this book so very much uncountable times. The
Authors humor and rhythm are brought together, so well by the narratorit’s impossible for me to imagine this book any other way. This book is just a great joy! Great science writing with humor. One of my favorite combinations.

A fast ride on a rickey coaster

I would describe this book as analogous to a community brown bag feast. There were quite a few good bits, but equal amounts of dense tough inedible bits of uncertain origin. I think the author tried and failed to cover much to wide of a field, and in the end left me with more questions than answers. I did gain a better understanding of the nature and role of geometry in modern science. But the author's tendency to digress into quick recitation of abstract and abstruse formulas was extremely frustrating. I recommend this book to those who want to understand the history of science, although there are quite a few better texts available from Audible. I don't recommend this book to anyone who is looking to learn more about either Euclid or Geometry.

G.A.Henderson

Special. A great story still being told.

We like children in the seashore as Newton described himself. The vista is endless and the story here still unfolding. Thank you for sharing this story it was a puzzle piece I had been missing in my understanding . The gems that popped out this are worthy.

Delightful

A history of math, delightful? Geometrically delightful, yes. A rich and rewarding tale of men who dared to challenge “modern science” through the centuries, an ongoing, dynamic process that continues to this day with no chance of stopping. Well done.