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Flatland (illustrated version)
Flatland (illustrated version)
Book Excerpt
true Dimension,
although I cannot point out to you its direction, nor can you
possibly measure it.' What would you say to such a visitor?
Would not you have him locked up? Well, that is my fate:
and it is as natural for us Flatlanders to lock up a Square
for preaching the Third Dimension, as it is for you Spacelanders
to lock up a Cube for preaching the Fourth. Alas, how strong
a family likeness runs through blind and persecuting humanity
in all Dimensions! Points, Lines, Squares, Cubes, Extra-Cubes --
we are all liable to the same errors, all alike the Slaves
of our respective Dimensional prejudices, as one of your
Spaceland poets has said --
'One touch of Nature makes all worlds akin'."
[Note: The Author desires me to add, that the misconception of some of his critics on this matter has induced him to insert in his dialogue with the Sphere, certain remarks which have a bearing on the point in question, and which he had previously omitted as being tedious and unnecessary.]
On this point th
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4.1
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This book makes good reading and is good for the mind. It shows that no matter how advanced and openminded your society is, there's always room for prejudice and discrimination. It also shows how discrimination survives, by hiding as a natural rule of law and morality that all should follow.
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WOW, I\'m sorry but anyone bored by this is definitely YOUNG in mind too. This is essentially the first scifi work and totally trippy for the time. So what, I dont care about math but the man has you in a whole other dimension and slyly criticizes all manner of social issues we have only recently addressed. its genius! Sorry it dosent have brad pitt dodging a bullet and making out with a scantly clad vampire. see you in study hall.
01/08/2011
Though it did change my prespective a bit, and made me think, I felt that Flatland was hard to drudge through. Written in 1884, it's archaic language and not-so-well-explained ideas (especially in Part 1)made it hard for even me, an avid reader, to get through. Though it picked up in Part 2, I wouldn't reccomend it, but would reccomend thinking about the ideas it displays. However, saying that, I am in High School and not a big fan of Math; prehaps one day I'll go back to read it and apppreciate it more. For now, though, it's definately not my cup of tea.
11/21/2010
This "illustrated" version only has the frontcover as an image
The other illustrations have ascii aproximations which simply don't work on my ebook readers.
The other illustrations have ascii aproximations which simply don't work on my ebook readers.
06/28/2010
Karl, I believe Danny's point was not that ALL high schoolers will not grasp the importance of this book but that the one-star reviewer was in fact mentally immature, possibly in high school. I am pained that you claim to understand a complex reading such as this book and yet fail to distinguish a specific comment from a general stereotype.
11/04/2009
A tough nut, definitely not casual or light reading. The author makes a satire of class-based society using a geometrical context, and somehow, it works. You could probably read this several times continue to see new angles, if you'll excuse the pun!
01/09/2009
I agree with Danny on the fact that this book is a work of art but i disagree with his comment that the one star reviewer is in high school and therefore could not have the mental capacity to enjoy such a book I myself am in high school and have fully enjoyed the book
09/25/2008
its very apparent that the one star reviewer (leslie) is mentally immature maybe still in high school and trapped in a still blissful little world....wake up FOOL. This is one of THE best books of all time both for its brilliance and its ability to make you think.
Knowledge is pain, Ignorance is bliss.....have a blissful day!
Knowledge is pain, Ignorance is bliss.....have a blissful day!
06/24/2008
Wryly funny and deeper than it initially appears, Abbott uses mathematical metaphor to pass comment on society at the time and it's injustice. A great book!
07/08/2007
The one star reviewer is commenting on himself. This is a gem of perception. Carl Sagan liked this book so much he used it as a tool in his series "COSMOS." Nuff said.
02/22/2007
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