Much like Cavendish's The Blazing World, this is more interesting than entertaining, and you probably shouldn't read it if you want something thrilling and/or adventurous. It does have, however, a plot, though it takes several chapters to get there. Some, if not most, of the social criticism is very current, and the prejudices presented in Abbott's fictional society reverberates with the prejudices we have today.

Kind of boring… I feel like it was trying to strike a balance between being a mathematical essay and a class commentary (or something) and then it just kind of… fizzled out. That being said I did like the illustrations

This would be an excellent book for a teenager curious about geometry, as it presents the concepts of spatial dimensions in an entertaining and easily understandable manner. However, be warned that some of the ideas are quaintly old fashioned, such as some not so subtle sexism.

I first heard about this book in 2020 on NPR during the “Finding Time” series played on Saturday morning. The book was written in 1884 as a satirical novella. Although considered fiction, many of the scientific ideas of the future were hinted at and even casually introduced including relativity and string theory. Also, in later (much later) interviews with Carl Sagan and Stephen Hawking, both considered this book one of the earliest influences in their own learning.

It’s a story about a square who later finds out that there are some beings that know nothing of dimension who live in Pointland. Other beings exist in Lineland which is made up of one-dimension “things.” The square, of course, lives in two-dimensional Flatland. When he learns about Spaceland and the three dimensional beings who live there, he starts to conceive of places with many more dimensions. It’s a very thought provoking and important book.

I also found this little dystopian gem in the history section of the book and thought it was pretty timely:

“…in many popularly elected School Boards, there is a reaction in favour of “the cheap system” as it is called - I am myself disposed to think that this is one of the many cases in which expense is the truest economy.”

In other words, a cheap educational system strips our kids of the education they deserve; investing money into education gives our kids the best possible opportunity and is a worthwhile expense.


I understand how necessary the first part of this book is but I did not enjoy it. Though the commentary on social hierarchy, restrictions put upon women, and differing gospel were very engaging. The mathematical lingo was not however. In the second part, we see this time spent understanding the laws, nature, and culture of this world pay off. By the story illustrated (sometimes literally), we see the nature of Flatland's inhabitants struggle with concepts beyond their comprehension, these concepts: free speech, free thinking, equal education, and ownership of one's body, oh yes and also the idea of
Spoilerinterdimensional beings.


SpoilerFuck the patriarchy.

A provocative and incredibly innovative book, especially considering it was written in 1884.
Flatland offers a brilliant geometric metaphor to critique the rigid social hierarchy of the Victorian era, where disruptive thinking is promptly crushed by the dogmas imposed by the upper classes, composed of influential aristocrats and religious figures. Science, philosophy, and women were feared by this patriarchal society, where revolutionary ideas that challenged the social structure could result in imprisonment or even death.
However, what intrigued me the most was the invitation to reflect on multidimensionality: To what extent is our perception of reality limited? And what limitations, whether social or cognitive, prevent us from envisioning dimensions beyond those we know?

Odiato quando sono stato costretto a leggerlo alle medie, l'ho ripreso da adulto e l'ho amato. Con una geniale allegoria, l'autore affronta temi di società e classi, esplorando le limitazioni della percezione umana. La narrazione è brillante, offrendo una riflessione profonda sulla dimensionalità dell'universo e sulla complessità delle relazioni umane. Un classico visionario, consigliato agli amanti della fantascienza e della filosofia.

I was oscillating between 2 and 4 stars. 4 because of a single sentence towards the end of the book that pushes you to learn and not consider yourself self sufficient. 3 because the subject(s - there are two parts with two messages) is interesting but not sufficiently explored. If you read the book "Things to make and do in the 4th dimension" then this one will not teach you much. 2 stars because for a non English speaker is hard to read, it uses unnecessarily complicated language.

so this book was mentioned in the last book i read [walking on water] so i was intrigued.

fascinating little ditty about shapes and their worlds. [especially considering the time in which it was written]. thrilling? no. social commentary? yes. offensive at times? yes [but in a thought provoking and i think purposeful way].

what i really want to do? illustrate this book.
i'm serious.
i just might do it.
adventurous informative medium-paced