The Self-Made Tapestry: Pattern Formation in Nature

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Seashells are often spirals, just like water going down the drain. There must be a connection, right? Our intuition scoffs at such a notion, but maybe they are related, writes Nature editor Philip Ball in The Self-Made Tapestry: Pattern Formation in Nature. This deep, beautiful exploration of the recurring patterns that we find both in the living and inanimate worlds will change how you think about everything from evolution to earthquakes. Not by any means a simple book, it is still completely engaging; even the occasional forays into mathematics and the abstractions of hydrodynamics are endurable, tucked as they are between Ball's bright prose and his hundreds of carefully selected illustrations.

When speaking of the living world, Ball seeks to go beyond the theory of natural selection, which explains why we see certain characteristics (height, shape, camouflage), to find mechanisms that can explain how such characteristics come to be. Again, this is no easy task, but for those willing to follow his discussion, the elegance of nature is laid out in zebras' stripes, ivy leaves, and butterfly wings. Moving on to find the same patterns at work in the clouds of Jupiter and the cracks in the San Andreas fault give strength to the feeling that there are self-composing structures that guide everything in the universe toward a kind of order. The Self-Made Tapestry is a challenging look at the biggest issues in science, and well worth a thorough read. --Rob Lightner

Book Description

For centuries, scientists have struggled to understand the origins of the patterns and forms found in nature-from the leopards spots to the graceful spirals of a mollusc shell to the complex designs on a butterflys wing. Now, in this lucid and elegantly written book, Philip Ball applies
state-of-the-art scientific understanding from the fields of biology, chemistry, geology, physics, and mathematics to these ancient mysteries, revealing how nature's seemingly complex patterns originate in simple physical laws.
Ball traces the history of scientific thought about natural patterns, showing how common presumptions-for example, that complex form must be guided by some intelligence or that form always follows function-are erroneous and continue to mislead scientists today. He investigates specific patterns in
depth, revealing that these designs are self-organized and that simple, local interactions between component parts produce motifs like spots, stripes, branches, and honeycombs. In the process, he examines the mysterious phenomenon of symmetry and why it appears-and breaks-in similar ways in
different systems. Finally, he attempts to answer this profound question: why are some patterns universal? Illustrations throughout the text, many in full color, beautifully illuminate Ball's ideas.
A fascination with nature,s patterns is as old as civilization. With this spellbinding book, Ball dispels age-old conundrums while increasing the readers wonder and appreciation for the beauty of the natural world. The Self-Made Tapestry will enlighten anyone who has ever marveled at the shape of
a seashell or the brilliance of a spider's web.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant affirmation of Emanationism, of Phi and complexity-in-nature.......2007-05-10

This is one of the finest affirmations of Emanationism of the Neoplatonists, i.e. that complexity in nature doesnt require Supernatural causes as exposited by Creationists. While this book does not deal with philosophical-religious principles, that its premise is the explaination for complexity in nature as merely Phi (golden section) ratios, it does provide the backbone for Emanationism, of the metaphore for the Cosmos in Platos Repuplic 509d-511 wherein Phi is given as the principle Logos (ratio/'tapestry') behind complexity in nature.

Masterful exploration of natural beauty.......2006-11-20

This is a lyrical celebration of natural beauty and underlying complexity. Not only that, the book itself is beautifully typeset, composed and arranged. A real pleasure to read, aesthetically and intellectually. Sheer wonder.

A really great book........2005-05-25

This is one of the best books i have read. Clear, in depth, and intelligent. Academic and also well written!
I highly recommend it.

Sad.......2004-08-03

I hope some publisher will do the world a favor and keep this book in print. It's a classic that belongs on the shelf right next to D'Arcy Thompson's "On Growth and Form." This might seem strange for me to say, but if I were to design an educational curriculum for people learning my profession (oncology), this book would be mandatory. It is highly recommended for anyone interested in morphogenesis. If anyone knows where I can buy 10 or 20 unused copies, I'd appreciate hearing from you (wmshea@earthlink.net).

The Self-Made Tapestry: Pattern Formation in Nature.......2004-02-06

The Self-Made Tapestry: Pattern Formation in Nature written by Philip Ball gives us some answers to long-standing questions as to why there are patterns in designs in nature that reoccur in seemly unrelated objects.

Biologists are used to the idea that form follows function. The shape and structure of a biological entity whether it is a protein molecule, an organism, or the wind blowing ripples in a sand dune all have a purpose and a function. These are things I was curious about when I was studying in college, things that caugh my attention as interrelated but how and why. Of course, things in my life became more complex, but these questions still always seemed to weigh in the back of my mind... A tree with limbs and a lightening bolt look simular and so too roots and nerves.

Well, "The Self-Made Tapestry" explains the why and how of why these simularities do exist. This book explains why these are not just coincidences. As nature weaves it tapestry through self-organization it employs no master plan it just applies simple local interactions between the component parts. The component parts inpart a common self-organization to energy conservation allowing for typically univeral patterns.

What I liked about this book is the author has put complex theories into non-technical language along with adequate illustrations show the reader how these patterns come about.

If you looking for a book on explains some of life's and nature's mysteries this is the book for you as it is highly readable and you begin to understand why things are as they are. The book reads like a textbook , the chapters build upon one another making for an accumilation of knowledge bases on a solid foundation from the start.

This book is a solid 4 stars giving the reader a adequate knowledge of the hows and whys of nature. This book only has very minor flaws, but that is all. I would highly recommend this book for you home science library as it would make a worthwhile addition.

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Why we can discover laws of nature

Symmetries and Reflections: Scientific Essays
Eugene P. Wigner
Manufacturer: The MIT Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0262730219

Customer Reviews:

Why we can discover laws of nature.......2004-02-03

Although simply written, this is not a book for beginers. On the other hand it doesn't hurt to read it early and think about it for a long time, rereading it from time to time, in order finally to get the main point. Wigner points out that the basis for answering the question posed by him, 'Why is it possible to discover laws of nature?' is explained in every elementary physics text but the point is too subtle, is therefore lost on nearly every reader. The answer, he explains convincingly, lies in invariance principles. As an example, were local Galilean invariance not true it would have been impossible for Galileo to have discovered any law of motion at all. The same holds for local translational, rotational and time-translational invariance. Inherent in Wigner's argument is the explanation why the so-called principle of general covariance is not the foundation of general relativity, which also is grounded in the local invariance principles of special relativity.

Book Description

This volume is dedicated to Heinz Post who proposed a rational model of scientific discovery. His account draws attention to the formal flaws in theories that motivate theory modification, the correspondence relations that hold between old and new theories and the cross-theoretic retention of symmetry and conservation principles. Exploring Post's model from a variety of perspectives, the contributors draw on a wide range of case studies from physics, chemistry and biology. This is the first work to examine one such model of heuristics in the context of detailed examples from science itself. It will be of interest to teachers, researchers and graduate students in both the history and philosophy of science and can be used as a textbook in advanced courses on scientific method.

Essays on Symmetry (Studies in Philosophy)

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Essays on Symmetry (Studies in Philosophy)
Jenann Ismael
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

Drawing from physics and philosophical debates, Ismael combines a set of essays on the time worn debate of symmetry from both fields.

Production, Stability and Dynamic Symmetry: The Selected Essays of Ryuzo Sato (Economists of the Twentieth Century)

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Production, Stability and Dynamic Symmetry: The Selected Essays of Ryuzo Sato (Economists of the Twentieth Century)
Ryuzo Sato
Manufacturer: Edward Elgar Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Econometrics | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1858989698

Book Description

This seminal work offers a carefully edited collection of Ryuzo Sato's pioneering contribution to the analysis of the theories of production, preference, stability and dynamic symmetry in economics. The author examines production functions and preference functions containing both goods and money and studies the stability of general equilibrium systems and economic conservation laws. The book also includes Professor Sato's groundbreaking work on the application of Lie group theory to the estimation of technical progress.

Book Description

This is a book that sings about the beauty of the fundamental laws of nature. Clear, accurate descriptions for general science readers (no equations in sight!) are punctuated with original, scintillating verses. The reader is taken on a journey through the contemporary understanding of the building blocks of nature and their interactions — the current status of that age-old, intriguing quest. The central role of symmetry is explained in a manner suitable for general science readers, and its splendor is celebrated in verse. The book facilitates understanding of the background and significance of today's scientific discoveries in atomic, nuclear and particle physics. Many of the poems appear as interludes that reinforce the discussions as they amuse the reader, making this informative book a delight to read.

Customer Reviews:

The poetry of elementary particles.......2004-05-01

It is not often that one can find a book dealing with a technical subject that is a pure delight to read, but the "Remnants of the Fall" is just such a book. The technical subject is elementary particle physics (which is written at a level for the non-expert). Liberally sprinkled throughout the book are poems about the subject matter being discussed - a style that is certainly unique and delightful.

A Mind Opener.......2004-02-21

Wow! What beauty and clarity too! Now I know the underlying ideas of particle physics and can appreciate their beauty. The delightful poetry fits so seamlessly with the explanations that I was completely charmed as I read and learned.

A Masterpiece.......2004-02-17

I am not a scientist. It has been over 40 years since I took my last science class; highschool Biology. I certainly avoided taking any science classes in college, because I was more than afraid of the grade I would get. I have been rewarded for opening my mind and trying to read this book, because it is both artistic in style and interesting in content. I never felt I would be able to understand a subject as difficult as Physics, and I am not pretending to have understood this entire book. I am saying I understood most of it. The author has written poetry that not only helps to explain many of the concepts, but is joyfull and fun to read. He clearly expresses his own love for the subject through his style of writing. It is a book well worth reading.

Symmetry and its Discontents: Essays on the History of Inductive Probability (Cambridge Studies in Probability, Induction and Decision Theory)

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Zabell is ignorant about the work of J M Keynes and G Boole

Symmetry and its Discontents: Essays on the History of Inductive Probability (Cambridge Studies in Probability, Induction and Decision Theory)
S. L. Zabell
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0521444705

Book Description

This volume brings together a collection of essays on the history and philosophy of probability and statistics by an eminent scholar in these subjects. Written over the last fifteen years, they fall into three broad categories. The first deals with the use of symmetry arguments in inductive probability, in particular, their use in deriving rules of succession. The second group deals with three outstanding individuals who made lasting contributions to probability and statistics in very different ways. The last group of essays deals with the problem of "predicting the unpredictable."

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This volume brings together a collection of essays on the history and philosophy of probability and statistics by one of the eminent scholars in these subjects. Written over the last fifteen years, they fall into three broad categories. The first deals with the use of symmetry arguments in inductive probability, in particular, their use in deriving rules of succession (Carnap's 'continuum of inductive methods'). The second group deals with four outstanding individuals who made lasting contributions to probability and statistics in very different ways: Frank Ramsey, R. A. Fisher, Alan Turing, and Abraham de Moivre. The last group of essays deals with the problem of 'predicting the unpredictable' - making predictions when the range of possible outcomes is unknown in advance. The essays weave together the history and philosophy of these subjects and document the fascination that they have exercised for more than three centuries.

Customer Reviews:

Zabell is ignorant about the work of J M Keynes and G Boole.......2005-08-01

Zabell(Z)has written an interesting but flawed book.Z covers the history of symmetry(exchangeability)arguments and applications,the principle of nonsufficient reason,Keynes's(and Johnson's)superior principle of indifference,the rule of succession from Laplace to the 1932 Mind contributions of W.Johnson,Ramsey's 1926 essay "Truth and Probability"(chapter 6),Fisher's fiducial probability,Fisher's criticisms of inverse probability and its main advocate,Harold Jeffrey.He finishs with an implicit discussion of Carnap's continuum of inductive methods.There are two major problems with this book .First,Z has overlooked the fact that Boole's approach to probability is fundamentally interval valued(including irrational numbers as estimates of probability).He criticizes Boole for being inconsistent about his evaluation of the principle of indifference when,in fact,Boole recognizes that the principle of indifference can sometimes be validly applied and sometimes cannot be.Second,Z implicitly completely misevaluates the 1922 Ramsey review of the A Treatise on Probability(1921;TP),as well as explicitly misevaluating those portions of Ramsey's 1926 essay that dealt with Keynes's logical theory of probability as put forth in the TP.Ramsey's reviews basically deal with only one chapter of the TP,chapterIII.Ramsey completely misinterprets the meaning of the terms"nonnumerical" and "nonmeasurable"to mean that Keynes 's theory's central tenet is that,in general,numbers can't be used to specify the probability relation unless the principle of indifference can be applied.This is all nonsense."Nonnumerical" meant that a single numeral can rarely be used to measure a probability because it usually requires TWO NUMBERS(an interval or set estimate)to measure a probability.Keynes spelt it out very clearly on pp.160-163 and pp.186-194 in chapters 15 and 17 of the TP.Keynes's entire logical framework and apparatus in Part III of the TP is based on the existence of "finite probabilities"that are larger than both numerical and nonnumerical(intervals)probabilities.Z just repeats the fictional Ramsey claims as if they were obvious facts.Z claims that Ramsey accomplished"...a swift,skillful and in many ways almost brutal demolition of that theory"(Zabell,p.127).He claims that "If such a relation(Keynes's logical probability relation)cannot be judged against any numerical yardstick,of what use is it"(Zabell,p.127;see pp.24-27 and pp.125-126 for additional errors on the topic of numerical calculation).Z also completely overlooks the importance of Keynes's weight of the evidence variable,w(where w is defined on the unit interval[0,1]), in decision theory.Ramsey simply assumes that w=1 for all probabilities.Zabell,not surprisingly,commits the same error when discussing W.Johnson's 1932 Mind articles.Zabell automatically sets Johnson's worth of the evidence variable,w,equal to 1(again,w is defined on the unit interval [0,1]).On pp.131-132,Z completely misinterprets and misevaluates Keynes's 1931 comments on Ramsey's 1926 essay.There is no recantation by Keynes.Keynes merely acknowledged that,if all of the special conditions assumed by Ramsey held(i.e.,all probabilities are linear,unique,strictly additive,fully weighted,precise, single numbers),then the probability calculus would serve as a consistency condition for rationality about degrees of belief.In such conditions,acceptance of the probability calculus would prevent a Dutch book from being made against the decision maker.It is unfortunate that Ramsey published what he purported to be reviews of the TP when in fact they were reviews of primarily one chapter which he badly misconstrued.As far as probability is concerned,the boy genius got a good deal of it wrong.The subjectivist theory of probability is a limited and special theory as opposed to Keynes's general theory of applied probability since,in application,Keynes's theory has a much larger range.All of the paradoxes and anomalies of subjective expected utility,which is built directly on the Ramsey-De Finetti-Savage approach ,are explained in the logical theory.Zabell overlooks Keynes's contributions because he has overlooked the major problems that exist with the Ramsey-De Finetti-Savage approach.

Immortal eyes and fearful symmetry: towards a drama of vision.(Thomas Kilroy's latest play "Blake")(Critical Essay): An article from: Irish University Review: a journal of Irish Studies

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Immortal eyes and fearful symmetry: towards a drama of vision.(Thomas Kilroy's latest play "Blake")(Critical Essay): An article from: Irish University Review: a journal of Irish Studies
Christopher Innes
Manufacturer: Irish University Review
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

General | Poetry | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Irish University Review: a journal of Irish Studies, published by Irish University Review on March 22, 2002. The length of the article is 5138 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Immortal eyes and fearful symmetry: towards a drama of vision.(Thomas Kilroy's latest play "Blake")(Critical Essay)
Author: Christopher Innes
Publication: Irish University Review: a journal of Irish Studies (Refereed)
Date: March 22, 2002
Publisher: Irish University Review
Volume: 32 Issue: 1 Page: 164(12)

Article Type: Critical Essay

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On beauty. (Plotinus).(Critical Essay): An article from: Daedalus

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On beauty. (Plotinus).(Critical Essay): An article from: Daedalus
Stephen MacKenna
Manufacturer: American Academy of Arts and Sciences
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital
ASIN: B0008FPEUI
Release Date: 2005-07-30

Book Description

This digital document is an article from Daedalus, published by American Academy of Arts and Sciences on September 22, 2002. The length of the article is 4710 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: On beauty. (Plotinus).(Critical Essay)
Author: Stephen MacKenna
Publication: Daedalus (Refereed)
Date: September 22, 2002
Publisher: American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Volume: 131 Issue: 4 Page: 27(8)

Article Type: Critical Essay

Distributed by Thomson Gale

Symmetries and Reflections: Scientific Essays

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Symmetries and Reflections: Scientific Essays
Eugene Wigner
Manufacturer: Ox Bow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000P9A8BW

Customer Reviews:

This Book Is Very Realistic.......2007-04-18

I loved this book. As a matter of fact, as of this writing, it is my favorite chick lit book!

I took this book with me when traveling for two weeks in Europe and I experienced so many things Jadie and her friends experienced. I identified SO MUCH with different characters in the book--their emotions, their opinions, their interests. Things that they'd say, I would have said too--verbatim!

This is by far one of the most intelligent chick lit books ever made.

The only flaw is the title is a misnomer; it should have been called something like, "The Girls' Global Guide to Travel". And it certainly gives an accurate description of the traveling!

Kudos and very well done Theresa Alan!!

Another Smash Hit!!!.......2005-12-06

As an avid fan of "Sex and the City," I'm constantly looking for stories that fill my need for smart, sassy, empowered, and real women. Ms. Alan is a top writer for her genre, and does an amazing job of creating characters that women can relate to and a story that you can't help but getting pulled into. If you love and miss "Sex and the City", then I recommend that you read all of Ms. Alan's other literary treasures which include, "Who You Know" and "Spur of the Moment."

I hope Santa will bring me the entire Theresa Alan collection!!!

More Teenage Fiction Than Adult Fiction..........2005-11-24

The author wants this book to read like a quest for one's meaning in life for a single working girl but ends up like a teeny bopper bubblegum fiction instead!

The protagonist aspires to be a successful travel writer while holding down a full time job as project manager with an internet company. She soon sets out on a European vacation with her girlfriend. The vacation has a double pronged motive, firstly to find out what she wants to do in her life. Secondly, to see what ideas she can gather for her travel writing proposals to submit to magazines on themes of courtship, love & marriage among European women whom she meets along her vacation. Of which, the author must have forgotten her plot and only makes few passing comments on it.

This is where the story falters badly. The plot is so weak that it reads like a teenager is writing a travel journal in her diary and dissecting how she feels with the overall impression that she is so tired of European sightseeing that it becomes one big monotonous dread. The whinging is so bad that it is worse than that of a kid!! Apart from the sporadic graphic sex scenes that reminds me that it belongs to adult fiction, I thought I have descended into teen fiction instead for the majority of the plot.

The saving grace is the city by city itineary of their European vacation which stays true to the facts. Hence, I gave it 2 stars though I was very tempted to pass it as 1 miserable star.

The Girls' Global Guide to Guys.......2005-08-12

This is the first book I have read from Theresa Alan. This book is by far one of the best books I have read. I hope to read more of her books in the future.

Made Me Want to Hop on a Plane and Fly to Europe..........2005-03-30

If you've ever been curious about what it's like to visit many of Europe's hot spots, you'll love this book.

Jadie Peregrine is tired of her boring office job. She desperately wants to break into writing full-time, but so far she's had little luck. The city of Boulder, CO that she lives in is just not prime dating ground either - she's had nothing but miserable dating experiences. What she wants to do more than anything is take off and travel through Europe. But how can she afford it? While pondering this very question, she is suddenly hit with an idea: what if she were to travel the world and write a book on the differences and similarities of dating in other cultures and countries?

Jadie manages to get the time off from work and gather her best friend Tate, and together they head to Europe, starting in London. What follows is plenty of adventures, meeting men, interviewing locals on dating customs, and soon Jadie has found someone she thinks may be the man of her dreams. Tate meanwhile doesn't seem to be thrilled with the men she encounters, although many of them are nice. Will she find someone she likes? Will Jadie manage to write the book she planned? Will she discover dating in other countries is the same as dating in Colorado?

I loved The Girls' Global Guide to Guys. It was a fun way to go along with the characters to the many countries and cities they explored. Author Theresa Alan is very descriptive when portraying many of the foods the characters ate and the atmosphere of the many different places. Several chapters of the book are devoted to following the characters around to different places, but it soon heats up after that. Jadie was great as a main character - she was funny, realistic and smart.

The only downside to the novel was that the plot was a tiny bit unrealistic at times.

Overall, however, I highly recommend this novel to all chick lit fans and to anyone who has ever thought about taking a trip abroad. This is a wonderful and fun read not to be missed!

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