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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Una novela inteligente, divertida y estimulante, que pone a prueba las limitaciones de nuestra percepción ordinaria. En Planilandia, un país de dos dimensiones, las figuras geométricas que lo habitan son incapaces de concebir la existencia de otra dimensión. Por supuesto, desde su estatus de figuras bidimensionales identifican cómodamente un mundo de una única dimensión, como nosotros mismos mirando a través de un microscopio. ¿Pero qué ocurre con aquello que nos envuelve y no alcanzamos a percibir?
Esta novela contiene, de manera proporcionada, unos ingredientes tan dispares como la ciencia ficción, la geometría y la sátira social. Al igual que en nuestro “universo” en el momento de su publicación, en Planilandia existe una rígida estructura de clases y una notoria preocupación por la apariencia social. Nuestro protagonista, un Cuadrado que ostenta una posición social nada desdeñable, se ve obligado a plantearse una cuestión que hoy en día resulta tan inquietante como hace cien años: ¿Podríamos ser nosotros y todo lo que vemos a nuestro alrededor tan sólo una sección de otros mundos de dimensiones superiores?
Esta novela contiene, de manera proporcionada, unos ingredientes tan dispares como la ciencia ficción, la geometría y la sátira social. Al igual que en nuestro “universo” en el momento de su publicación, en Planilandia existe una rígida estructura de clases y una notoria preocupación por la apariencia social. Nuestro protagonista, un Cuadrado que ostenta una posición social nada desdeñable, se ve obligado a plantearse una cuestión que hoy en día resulta tan inquietante como hace cien años: ¿Podríamos ser nosotros y todo lo que vemos a nuestro alrededor tan sólo una sección de otros mundos de dimensiones superiores?
Fun read. Will make you consider the nature of popular thinking when confronted with unpopular facts/ideas.
This really is a fantastic little book. It is odd, the "romance" part is actually in the classical sense, adventure. An adventure that describes a 0, 1, 2, 3, and even 4 (slightly) physical dimensional world.
What makes it so extraordinary is first the fact that it was written in 1884! Second, that it explains these worlds so easily and clearly. Seeing in a dimension higher than the one you commonly perceive is akin to being able to simultaneously see both the outside and inside of things and to seemingly appear and disappear as you intersect lower dimensions; fascinating stuff.
What makes it so extraordinary is first the fact that it was written in 1884! Second, that it explains these worlds so easily and clearly. Seeing in a dimension higher than the one you commonly perceive is akin to being able to simultaneously see both the outside and inside of things and to seemingly appear and disappear as you intersect lower dimensions; fascinating stuff.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Un breve testo geniale e didattico, sorprendente pensando che è stato redatto nel 1884 (e infatti era talmente avanti che all'epoca passò sottotraccia, venendo poi ripreso qualche decennio dopo).
Il quadrato che vive in Flatlandia, mondo a due dimensioni, prima ci racconta il suo mondo e la sua vita, chi vi abita, come funzionano i rapporti sociali e quali leggi governano le loro vite. E qui si va di sottile satira e palate di fantasia.
Poi arriva l'elemento che cambia tutto, il visitatore dalla terza dimensione che poco a poco cambia la prospettiva del Quadrato aprendogli gli occhi all'universo in tre dimensioni.
E facendolo così bene da portarlo a ipotizzare ulteriori dimensioni, inizialmente rifiutate sdegnosamente dalla Sfera (riottosa a vedere la figura bidimensionale smettere di vederlo quale creatura suprema) e poi accettate e concesse, quasi con una vena di orgoglio per l'allievo.
Una lezione di matematica e geometria, l'ipotesi di dimensioni ulteriori per noi inconcepibili come l'altezza per le figure bidimensionali (o la lunghezza per quelle unidimensionali, o la pluralità per quelle a zero dimensioni) e l'invito a rimanere con una mente aperta, a non cedere a facili dogmi, a cercare la verità.
Divertente e profetico.
Il quadrato che vive in Flatlandia, mondo a due dimensioni, prima ci racconta il suo mondo e la sua vita, chi vi abita, come funzionano i rapporti sociali e quali leggi governano le loro vite. E qui si va di sottile satira e palate di fantasia.
Poi arriva l'elemento che cambia tutto, il visitatore dalla terza dimensione che poco a poco cambia la prospettiva del Quadrato aprendogli gli occhi all'universo in tre dimensioni.
E facendolo così bene da portarlo a ipotizzare ulteriori dimensioni, inizialmente rifiutate sdegnosamente dalla Sfera (riottosa a vedere la figura bidimensionale smettere di vederlo quale creatura suprema) e poi accettate e concesse, quasi con una vena di orgoglio per l'allievo.
Una lezione di matematica e geometria, l'ipotesi di dimensioni ulteriori per noi inconcepibili come l'altezza per le figure bidimensionali (o la lunghezza per quelle unidimensionali, o la pluralità per quelle a zero dimensioni) e l'invito a rimanere con una mente aperta, a non cedere a facili dogmi, a cercare la verità.
Divertente e profetico.
Flatland is like nothing you've ever read or likely to ever read!
It's smart, satirical, Victorian and yet the philosophical subject matter is very timeless. It was written in 1884, over 150 years ago, but the only thing dated about the book is it's Victorian prose.
I will have to say that you'll either love it or hate it. There won't be any in between. The book is described as "mathematical fiction" (whatever that means)... but in my opinion it's a smart tongue and cheek book of satire about politics, sociology, philosophy, theology and even quantum physics written using geometry as it's subject matter... with colorful imagination and creativity that one can only presume was driven by an opium driven trip!
It's also important to read the book in the context of when it was written and what was the scientific knowledge, or lack there of, of the time. Also understanding the background of the person who wrote it is just as important. He was an educator, theologian and a priest. He used this complicated background of his, to write a book under a pseudonym ( as he couldn't possibly risk jeopardizing his social standing ), that makes you look at the universe, possibility of other dimensions, the normal hierarchy & social order of Victorian society, religious dogma and persecution, superstition, and even God itself, through questionable scientific eyes...
This is a story about a 'Square' living in a 2 dimensional 'flat land' world who's residents hierarchy in society is directly related to the number of sides and angles they have. The more sides to a being, the higher their intellect and status. He then dreams of 'line land' and how the residents there only live in one dimension and have no concept of what 2D would be and despite his efforts to educate them, they can't understand or fathom it. He finds their denial of his world mind boggling. But then he encounters a "Sphere" which he himself has a hard time comprehending... until he's transported to its 3D world of 'Spaceland'... his eyes and mind is then opened to the possibility of other unknown dimensions and worlds...but he can never convince his people of this new realization.... the premise of this story mimics societal resistance to accepting any higher concept or higher being that one can't see or experience.
One of the revolutionary views presented in this story under the guise of satire was the questioning of Victorian hierarchy.. where in this imaginary 2 dimensional geometrical world, just like the real world of the time, one's social standing is based on one's configuration and number of sides and angles, none of which the individual had any control over and is set based on one's parental lineage at birth. No amount of education, knowledge, hardwork or morals can allow one to advance in life or "develop more sides'.
Another example of how the book challenged society was how it approached sexism of the time. Women, being the " lowest" of all creatures, least intellectual, and most emotional and irrational, ( all likely sentiments of the time) were just one line with no angles... foot soldiers were the next group with a sharp isosceles.. from there you got equal triangles (handimen), squares (lawyers and tradesmen), pentagonal (doctors), hexagonal, etc.... all the way up to ultimately a circle (priests and rulers). A fascinating fact about this configuration driven society was that good conduct or bad conduct was expected and explained by yr geometry.. and wasn't something you could rectify or rehab.. Nature vs Nurture debate argued very interestingly... Same argument was used for education.. there was no point in educating women or the lower class folks, because they inherently lacked the angles, sides and intellectual capacity to comprehend. So no need to waste education on them!
Obviously these ideas are incomprehensible today.. but it was only 150 years ago, when they were societal norms and by highlighting the absurdity of these dictums, the way the author does geometrically, he makes the reader question the validity of it socially as well.
Overall, it was a great 'thinking' book. I listened on audio which was well done but don't be fooled by its short audio length, i kept having to rewind to make sure i grasped it all, so it took me almost 3 or 4 times longer then the length of the audiobook.
It's smart, satirical, Victorian and yet the philosophical subject matter is very timeless. It was written in 1884, over 150 years ago, but the only thing dated about the book is it's Victorian prose.
I will have to say that you'll either love it or hate it. There won't be any in between. The book is described as "mathematical fiction" (whatever that means)... but in my opinion it's a smart tongue and cheek book of satire about politics, sociology, philosophy, theology and even quantum physics written using geometry as it's subject matter... with colorful imagination and creativity that one can only presume was driven by an opium driven trip!
It's also important to read the book in the context of when it was written and what was the scientific knowledge, or lack there of, of the time. Also understanding the background of the person who wrote it is just as important. He was an educator, theologian and a priest. He used this complicated background of his, to write a book under a pseudonym ( as he couldn't possibly risk jeopardizing his social standing ), that makes you look at the universe, possibility of other dimensions, the normal hierarchy & social order of Victorian society, religious dogma and persecution, superstition, and even God itself, through questionable scientific eyes...
This is a story about a 'Square' living in a 2 dimensional 'flat land' world who's residents hierarchy in society is directly related to the number of sides and angles they have. The more sides to a being, the higher their intellect and status. He then dreams of 'line land' and how the residents there only live in one dimension and have no concept of what 2D would be and despite his efforts to educate them, they can't understand or fathom it. He finds their denial of his world mind boggling. But then he encounters a "Sphere" which he himself has a hard time comprehending... until he's transported to its 3D world of 'Spaceland'... his eyes and mind is then opened to the possibility of other unknown dimensions and worlds...but he can never convince his people of this new realization.... the premise of this story mimics societal resistance to accepting any higher concept or higher being that one can't see or experience.
One of the revolutionary views presented in this story under the guise of satire was the questioning of Victorian hierarchy.. where in this imaginary 2 dimensional geometrical world, just like the real world of the time, one's social standing is based on one's configuration and number of sides and angles, none of which the individual had any control over and is set based on one's parental lineage at birth. No amount of education, knowledge, hardwork or morals can allow one to advance in life or "develop more sides'.
Another example of how the book challenged society was how it approached sexism of the time. Women, being the " lowest" of all creatures, least intellectual, and most emotional and irrational, ( all likely sentiments of the time) were just one line with no angles... foot soldiers were the next group with a sharp isosceles.. from there you got equal triangles (handimen), squares (lawyers and tradesmen), pentagonal (doctors), hexagonal, etc.... all the way up to ultimately a circle (priests and rulers). A fascinating fact about this configuration driven society was that good conduct or bad conduct was expected and explained by yr geometry.. and wasn't something you could rectify or rehab.. Nature vs Nurture debate argued very interestingly... Same argument was used for education.. there was no point in educating women or the lower class folks, because they inherently lacked the angles, sides and intellectual capacity to comprehend. So no need to waste education on them!
Obviously these ideas are incomprehensible today.. but it was only 150 years ago, when they were societal norms and by highlighting the absurdity of these dictums, the way the author does geometrically, he makes the reader question the validity of it socially as well.
Overall, it was a great 'thinking' book. I listened on audio which was well done but don't be fooled by its short audio length, i kept having to rewind to make sure i grasped it all, so it took me almost 3 or 4 times longer then the length of the audiobook.
informative
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I feel like Tom Lehrer would like this book, and that makes me feel smarter for liking it too.
Originally reviewed on RED Book Reviews.
Story: A square living in a two-dimensional universe explains the working of his universe, and then tells the story of how he explored, in reality and in visions, the universes of no dimensions, one dimension, and three dimensions.
Thoughts: I should have read this at the same time as A Wrinkle in Time. The talk about multiple dimensions in WiT totally fascinated me, and I think this book would have followed up on that perfectly. At this present time, however, it doesn't go into quite as much depth as I'd like. They didn't even go to the Fourth Dimension! Although I suppose it's left up to the reader to do that, as a sort of exercise. And there are other resources if you want to go farther in dimensional thought (like this awesome video).
But I shouldn't be too upset about this "lack of depth". It was written in 1884, after all. Before Einstein and quantum physics--before practically everything related to this.
The second main element of this book is Victorian satire. The Square who is the "author" of Flatland has definitive views on his society. Many of them rather ridiculous. Personally, I found this part (most of Part I) not as interesting, but I fully acknowledge that many people like Victorian satire more than imagining different dimensions. So I don't blame anyone if they find the first half far more interesting than the second half.
Story: A square living in a two-dimensional universe explains the working of his universe, and then tells the story of how he explored, in reality and in visions, the universes of no dimensions, one dimension, and three dimensions.
Thoughts: I should have read this at the same time as A Wrinkle in Time. The talk about multiple dimensions in WiT totally fascinated me, and I think this book would have followed up on that perfectly. At this present time, however, it doesn't go into quite as much depth as I'd like. They didn't even go to the Fourth Dimension! Although I suppose it's left up to the reader to do that, as a sort of exercise. And there are other resources if you want to go farther in dimensional thought (like this awesome video).
But I shouldn't be too upset about this "lack of depth". It was written in 1884, after all. Before Einstein and quantum physics--before practically everything related to this.
The second main element of this book is Victorian satire. The Square who is the "author" of Flatland has definitive views on his society. Many of them rather ridiculous. Personally, I found this part (most of Part I) not as interesting, but I fully acknowledge that many people like Victorian satire more than imagining different dimensions. So I don't blame anyone if they find the first half far more interesting than the second half.