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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
My review should probably come with the caveat that I actually listened to this as an audiobook, specifically the Amazon Classics version, which likely contributed to my rating because the narration was SUPERB. The book on its own is great, but I think that if I would have read it myself I would have gotten lost in some of the droning on about mathematics and fallen asleep. But instead I got to hear a lovely narration with lots of wonderful sass and inflection that kept me awake - and Im so glad! The premise of this book really is so fascinating, and Im really glad I finally got around to “reading” it, years after a philosophy professor brought it up in a class about phenomenology. It raises a lot of questions about how we know what we know, what we don’t know, and the importance of being open-minded and aware of our subjective knowledge about the world. I can see how this sort of book might not appeal to everyone, but I thought it was just wonderful.
challenging
funny
inspiring
reflective
Absolutely mind-blowing. If you have ever taken a geometry class and don't mind old-timey language or brain-bending, READ THIS BOOK.
This is a fictional story that gets you thinking about the fourth dimension. MC is an elitist, two-dimensional Square.
Part 1 is Victorian *satire* (I was progressively more appalled until I remembered this, and then it became hilarious. I had to fetch paper towels when I made my husband spit out his tea). Part 2 is A Wrinkle in Time for grown-ups 🤩
It was work, but it was SO worth it. I had to look up a number of words. I had to stop and ponder. I filled 4 pages of my little journal with quotes from this book, and then started putting them in my phone to write down later so I could keep reading.
It was written by a theologian, and it shows. There are TONS of biblical references, and several oh-snap moments to stop and meditate on the nature of God and his relationship with Man, if you like. The author added a preface later including a caution that it isn't an exact allegory, though, so I wouldn't stress about everything lining up perfectly. It's just (really good) food for thought.
This is a fictional story that gets you thinking about the fourth dimension. MC is an elitist, two-dimensional Square.
Part 1 is Victorian *satire* (I was progressively more appalled until I remembered this, and then it became hilarious. I had to fetch paper towels when I made my husband spit out his tea). Part 2 is A Wrinkle in Time for grown-ups 🤩
It was work, but it was SO worth it. I had to look up a number of words. I had to stop and ponder. I filled 4 pages of my little journal with quotes from this book, and then started putting them in my phone to write down later so I could keep reading.
It was written by a theologian, and it shows. There are TONS of biblical references, and several oh-snap moments to stop and meditate on the nature of God and his relationship with Man, if you like. The author added a preface later including a caution that it isn't an exact allegory, though, so I wouldn't stress about everything lining up perfectly. It's just (really good) food for thought.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Classism
Moderate: Ableism
Minor: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Suicide, Forced institutionalization
Classism and sexism are overblown and satirical, quite offensive if you read them seriously.
In an effort to improve their legacy, (two-dimensional shape) parents enroll infants in a program designed to increase the number of their sides (and thus the sides of their future grandchildren), with a 90% fatal failure rate. This, alongside the death penalty and eugenics, is referenced callously--because satire.
Martial relations and procreation are briefly alluded to several times with typical Victorian vocabulary. Completely inoffensive, for the sake of discussing trait inheritance or species continuation.
"Just as, with you, the deaf and dumb, if once allowed to gesticulate and to use the hand-alphabet, will never acquire the more difficult but far more valuable art of lipspeech and lip-reading...."
Suicide briefly mentioned.
In an effort to improve their legacy, (two-dimensional shape) parents enroll infants in a program designed to increase the number of their sides (and thus the sides of their future grandchildren), with a 90% fatal failure rate. This, alongside the death penalty and eugenics, is referenced callously--because satire.
Martial relations and procreation are briefly alluded to several times with typical Victorian vocabulary. Completely inoffensive, for the sake of discussing trait inheritance or species continuation.
"Just as, with you, the deaf and dumb, if once allowed to gesticulate and to use the hand-alphabet, will never acquire the more difficult but far more valuable art of lipspeech and lip-reading...."
Suicide briefly mentioned.
Very well-thought-out work on life in separate dimensions, and terrifying commentary on the cultures of those dimensions.
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It's less a story and more a stylized conceptual musing about life and society in two dimensions. I found the beginning and the description of their society slightly too drawn-out (and very dated), but the final chapters were entertaining.
Loved the thought experiments of diving into 0d and 1d worlds and the logical build-up of a potential 4d space.
Overall quite nice, though dated. Should be 3 stars in my subjective rating scheme, but this book made me Google tesseracts and fall into a rabbit hole of scientific articles, so I'll grant it the bonus star for making me think outside the box - literally!
Loved the thought experiments of diving into 0d and 1d worlds and the logical build-up of a potential 4d space.
Overall quite nice, though dated. Should be 3 stars in my subjective rating scheme, but this book made me Google tesseracts and fall into a rabbit hole of scientific articles, so I'll grant it the bonus star for making me think outside the box - literally!
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A