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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
This quick read was funny, quirky, and made me wonder if ghosts were real. There is some simple geometry involved, but figuring out the descriptions made by the narrator, A. Square, with the help of geometrical diagrams made this novella all the more enjoyable for me. I'd recommend this book for people who: like reading about different dimensions, are ok with math, & like laughing at the chauvinistic eccentricities of a government ruled by geometric shapes.
FLATLAND is a classic of math sci-fi written by a Shakespearean scholar, of all people--but the writing here most resembles Jonathan Swift. In the first half of the book, our narrator, a middle-class Square, describes the agressively misogynistic and anti-Marxist structure of his two-dimensional society. I wasn't expecting so much poli sci in a math book, but Abbott obviously has fun with it. Most of the math philosophy comes in the second half, when our Flatlander travels first to one-dimensional and then to three-dimensional and no-dimensional space.
Abbott shows that the contemplation of abstract mathematics requires both audacity and humility: the audacity to imagine dimensions we have never seen, and the humility to accept our own insignificance. I was struck by his vision of Pointland, whose lone inhabitant soliloquizes about the joy of existance, knowing nothing beyond itself. As our Flatlander traverses the dimensions, all the constructions of his own world fall away. The elegance of FLATLAND is that the author spends the first 50 pages constructing a complex, restrictive social heirarchy and the second 50 pages tearing it down.
FLATLAND is definitely worth a read for anyone who likes to think. Feel free to throw the book against the wall when the blatant sexism described therein gets too disgusting, but be sure to pick it up and finish it later.
Abbott shows that the contemplation of abstract mathematics requires both audacity and humility: the audacity to imagine dimensions we have never seen, and the humility to accept our own insignificance. I was struck by his vision of Pointland, whose lone inhabitant soliloquizes about the joy of existance, knowing nothing beyond itself. As our Flatlander traverses the dimensions, all the constructions of his own world fall away. The elegance of FLATLAND is that the author spends the first 50 pages constructing a complex, restrictive social heirarchy and the second 50 pages tearing it down.
FLATLAND is definitely worth a read for anyone who likes to think. Feel free to throw the book against the wall when the blatant sexism described therein gets too disgusting, but be sure to pick it up and finish it later.
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
In an effort to read more books suggested by my husband, I had the pleasure of reading this odd, hidden gem. A Book he read years ago and then found it at a used bookstore he said he wasn't sure if it was my cup of tea. Although it took me a minute to understand what I was reading and the purpose of the literature, I thoroughly enjoyed this odd tale of the world of Flatland. I laughed out loud many times at the absurdity I was unraveling as I read a citizen of Flatlands account of his world and the worlds beyond, unknown, and unfathomable.
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
2.5 stars, I liked the last quarter of the book when we meet the sphere. There were some very impactful passages about the denial of the N+1th dimension by the “solids” in the Nth dimension. I know the first three quarters of the book worth of definitions were necessary to build to those moments. And I don’t even really mind mathematical definitions as content!
HOWEVER!
Flatland was an incredibly chauvinist society. To me, the misogyny didn’t serve to amplify the satire. It seemed like just misogyny for misogyny’s sake. I read that Abbott was a leader for women’s education, but he explains in the book that the argument for educating women is only so men are not forced to talk down to women (and therefore dim their own male intellect). Maybe that’s part of the satire too! And it all went over my head! /s But…it really negatively affected how I felt about the novella.
Also, seems like an awful waste to setup 80 pages of math definitions, to only let the reader play in the world for the remaining 50.
HOWEVER!
Flatland was an incredibly chauvinist society. To me, the misogyny didn’t serve to amplify the satire. It seemed like just misogyny for misogyny’s sake. I read that Abbott was a leader for women’s education, but he explains in the book that the argument for educating women is only so men are not forced to talk down to women (and therefore dim their own male intellect). Maybe that’s part of the satire too! And it all went over my head! /s But…it really negatively affected how I felt about the novella.
Also, seems like an awful waste to setup 80 pages of math definitions, to only let the reader play in the world for the remaining 50.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
A stimulating and thought-provoking read; requiring a rest after most chapters for processing, however, I very much recommend it.
"But as we ascend in the social scale, the process of discriminating and being discriminated by hearing increases in difficulty, partly because voices are assimilated, partly because the faculty of voice-discrimination is a plebeian virtue not much developed among the Aristocracy."
"... in some manner, I know not how, may find their way to the minds of humanity in Some Dimension, and may stir up a race of rebels who shall refuse to be confined to limited Dimensionality. "
"But as we ascend in the social scale, the process of discriminating and being discriminated by hearing increases in difficulty, partly because voices are assimilated, partly because the faculty of voice-discrimination is a plebeian virtue not much developed among the Aristocracy."
"... in some manner, I know not how, may find their way to the minds of humanity in Some Dimension, and may stir up a race of rebels who shall refuse to be confined to limited Dimensionality. "
Makes you think really hard about the higher dimensions!
The satire, oppression of women & idea of divinity are very well written ♥️
The satire, oppression of women & idea of divinity are very well written ♥️
Marvelous book. Altought the author criticizes the society, the best part is the exploration of a extra dimension in a world of 2 dimensions.
This make me wonder How would be a extra dimension for us???
Math is the only way to grasp this extras dimensions, our imagination, our senses are limited, and confined to our reality.
This make me wonder How would be a extra dimension for us???
Math is the only way to grasp this extras dimensions, our imagination, our senses are limited, and confined to our reality.
One of the least known works of wonder that came out of this era's science fiction. Originally published as written by A. Square (pun obviously intended), it brings about a unique look at the world, and some real headaches if you bother to think about it too much.
With the square, we see Flatland, Lineland, Pointland, and our own three dimensional world, all through the eyes of a square (or, as it were, A. Square). We see the subtle ways in which they tell one another apart in Flatland, the esoteric mating ritual of the lines in Lineland, the self-centeredness of the Point, and a possibly painful look at our own society with the self-believed, all-knowing cube.
A brilliant piece that deserves everyone's attention, literati or otherwise.
With the square, we see Flatland, Lineland, Pointland, and our own three dimensional world, all through the eyes of a square (or, as it were, A. Square). We see the subtle ways in which they tell one another apart in Flatland, the esoteric mating ritual of the lines in Lineland, the self-centeredness of the Point, and a possibly painful look at our own society with the self-believed, all-knowing cube.
A brilliant piece that deserves everyone's attention, literati or otherwise.
"Either this is madness or it is Hell." "It is neither," calmly replied the voice of the Sphere, "it is Knowledge; it is Three Dimensions: open your eye once again and try to look steadily."
Those lines summed up pretty much everything about this book. Of course, I cringed at the implementation of women as creatures lack on dimensions. Or how sides determine social classes among Flatlanders. But keep in mind: (1) this is satire (2) about Victorian society. Though, sure, some of them may or may not be seen in our recent society, you observe.
Flatland is a book about open mind, as one of the reviewers here stated. Seriously, I have to stop for a while just to think about, for instance, why sides determine social classes. It's difficult at first, but I enjoyed the process later and have my mind blown. Also, it teaches us to appreciate other mindsets, points of view, or rather, interpretations because each one of us walks the different paths.
Subtly poetic, it's one of my favourite books now.
Those lines summed up pretty much everything about this book. Of course, I cringed at the implementation of women as creatures lack on dimensions. Or how sides determine social classes among Flatlanders. But keep in mind: (1) this is satire (2) about Victorian society. Though, sure, some of them may or may not be seen in our recent society, you observe.
Flatland is a book about open mind, as one of the reviewers here stated. Seriously, I have to stop for a while just to think about, for instance, why sides determine social classes. It's difficult at first, but I enjoyed the process later and have my mind blown. Also, it teaches us to appreciate other mindsets, points of view, or rather, interpretations because each one of us walks the different paths.
Subtly poetic, it's one of my favourite books now.