Customer Reviews:
Unfortunate Anachronisms.......2004-12-23
This is generally a good book about the Pythagorean Theorem. I was disappointed, however, that someone did not catch the gross anachronisms before publication. In the book young Pythagorus travels to Alexandria, Egypt. However, Pythagoras was born (as the book points out) around 569 BC. This predates Alexander the Great by more than 200 years. Of course Alexandria would not have existed before Alexander the Great. Also as Pythagoras' ship approaches Alexandria, you can see the great lighthouse, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, in the background. The lighthouse wasn't built, however until around 271 BC - even after Alexander's death. I know it's just a fictional children's book, but come on. Our children deserve a little better research.
Pythagoras made easy!.......2004-08-09
This is probably the most enjoyable way I have come across to teach Pythagorean Theorem to my children. It's one of those special books which children will read without realising they are learning a mathematical concept. Highly recommended to teachers and parents grappling with this sometimes difficult topic!
Book Description
Dan Millman presents an entirely new way of understanding life and the forces that shape it. The Life-Purpose System, a modern method of personal growth based on ancient wisdom, had helped thousands of people find new meaning, purpose, and direction in their lives. The Life You Were Born to Live features
the thirty-seven paths of life,
how to determine your life path and the life paths of others,
core issues, inborn talents, and special needs of each path, including health, money, and sexuality,
guidelines for finding a career consistent with your innate drives and abilities,
the hidden dynamics of your relationships,
how to live in harmony with the cycles of life. The Life-Purpose System explores key spiritual lawsuniversal principles specific to each life paththat help you clarify the past, understand the present, and shape the future. It can generate a quantum leap in self-understanding and may even change the course of your life.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting Insights.......2007-10-09
Being a lost soul in the sense that I have no idea what to do with my life, Dan Millman gives some insight into what drives my ambitions, interests, strengths and weaknesses. This is a very interesting book that should be shared with friends and family, not necessarily as a roadmap for one's life, but as a guide to seeing what your life (and others like you) could be. It is also great as a spooky "hey, check this out" item to use with your pals.
Very helpful resource.......2007-10-02
I have used this book for years as an resource for developing great questions for couples who are working through issues or considering marriage - a great conversation starter. I have shared this book with a number of counselor friends in several areas and think it is a source that is helpful for those who think mathematically and for those who think figuratively. Millman guides folks in a way that can open up even more possibilities and when folks are "stuck" with a problem to solve or a life issue to resolve some new thinking modes are helpful and often productive. I think overall folks think it is a fun mode of self exploration.
Great Numerology System.......2007-08-09
I had this as required reading for my Reiki classes and it was Great. Enough said.
Awesome book!.......2007-01-12
Dan Millman has done it again! His common sense approach to living life on life's terms is demonstrated again in this enlightening book, plus a personal look at my life (and yours) and how to make the most of it. His detailed description of the life I was meant to live spoke to me about what I came here to learn, where I am in the spectrum of learning it, and what tools I can use to go further, all in a down-to-earth, non-judgmental way. Some of my friends also enjoyed hearing about their lives, and we could see that much of what was in the book was a true description of the traits of each other. I'd highly recommend this book.
So accurate it's scary.......2007-01-10
This book is fabulous!! It so accurately describes your personality based on the date of your birth. It tells you the positive aspects of your personality, as well as parts that you need to work on to live a happy life. everyone that sees this book is surprised that it so accurately describes them. more than one person has tried to steal this book from me, so i have given out several copies as gifts. and the are such a hit!
Customer Reviews:
You'll Find No Other Better!.......2007-01-23
John Opsopaus is an incredible scholar & that is what lays the foundation for this magnificent book & deck of Tarot cards. I am a fanatical researcher of the "Arcane Arts" & have learned SO much from Mr. O's website. I have never owned a Tarot deck before & was scarcely interested as I'm as psychic as anybody & just learned to follow my hunches at an early age & I like suprises. However, after reading about each of the Major Arcana on his site, I felt compelled to get the book & deck.
As it turns out, my studies of Alchemy, Astrology, Magick & Mythology all came in handy because this book is SO thorough in it's use of symbology & numerolgy, & synthesizes these cross-culturally. This has a layering effect & I'm certain to learn even more upon subsequent readings of this tome. While there was plenty of dot connecting I could do while I read it- there was still plenty I could nowise make use of as I had no frame of reference.
If you are new to Arcane Arts this is probably NOT the best place for you to start unless you have some amazing gift of Intelligence &/or understanding beccause this IS complex. Mr. O puts the Tarot back in it's original order making one wonder WHY it was EVER changed & why SO many just blindly go along with those changes. Also, this particular Tarot is NOT a game- there is a whole industry of pseudo-occult objects & websites (read: Occult-lite or diet-Occult) that caters to the surfacey, dabblers & thank Goodness for it as that keeps us all safe. This Tarot is in depth citing around 1600 sources.
One can visit John Opsopaus' website & learn in doses before deciding whether or not they're ready to go this deeply into the Tarot but please, whoever you are, wherever you are, start telling anyone you know with any interest in the Tarot that most decks DO not use the original order of the Major Arcana & it's MOST likely that the Tarot has NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with the Quaballa. (or howEVER it's spelled.)
Maths and Magic synthesised.......2005-08-11
I am a newcomer to the Tarot, which is probably not the best way to start this book. However, I'm well read in Pythagorean esoterica, and dived straight in. What can I say?
Phenomenal! The logic and symmetry which underlie Pythagoras' school of mysticism, is astounding. And, despite being extremely lucid, the author is clearly a highly qualified and academically rigorous authority on the subject.
Discovering this book honestly feels like stumbling upon some ancient priceless treasure. Perhaps the greatest preSocratic philosopher, Pythagoras treated magic and science as an indestructable whole, and the meaningfulness that emerges is a powerful antidote to our modern schizophrenic view of the world.
I didn't buy the book for the tarot deck. But having extensively researched the Tarot since, I don't think one could get nearer to profoundly insightful divination
A great resource for understanding the Tarot........2002-07-23
The subtitle of this book is "An Interpretation Based on Pythagorean and Alchemical Principles," and as such it gives a broad introduction to the symbols at the root of Western occult iconography.
In his introduction Opsopaus writes that he's written the book for neopagans who are dissatisfied with traditional decks based on the theology and esotericism of the late Renaissance. But that doesn't mean the book isn't useful for traditionalists as well. After all, much of the esoteric though of the Renaissance grew out of Pythagoras' thought and the Greek mystery traditions. I use traditional decks myself, but I reference this book constantly.
In fact, anyone interested in the history of symbols will find a wealth of material in this book. The bibliography in the back is absolutely wonderful. The section on Pythagorean numerology is the best I have read on that subject.
In addition, the cards are beautiful; the symbols are different than a traditional deck, but not so different that you can't recognize immediately which major arcana card you're looking at. The pip cards have no pictures, which is the way the early tarot decks were created. However, their meanings are easily derived by combining the numerological information with the element qualities. Opsopaus does this in his section on the pip cards.
The book starts out with a section on the background of the metaphysical ideas the author deals with, then goes on to sections on the major, then the minor arcana. The fourth section covers divination thoroughly and with some wonderful insights not covered in other books.
I first found out about Opsopaus' tarot writings on his encyclopaedic website, which has the same name as the book. I originally tried printing out the website material (before the book was published), but there was just too much. I've found the book to be a must-have in my Tarot library. It's not only scholarly but also very readable, which makes for a good learning experience.
Book Description
Professor of Music at Colgate University and a widely respected musicologist, Godwin traces the history of the idea, held since ancient times, that the whole cosmos, with its circling planets and stars, is in some way a musical or harmonious entity. The author shows how this concept has continued to inspire philosophers, astronomers, and mystics from antiquity to the present day.
Customer Reviews:
A Conscious Cosmos ~ Re-Discovering The Adam Kadmon.......2006-05-19
Jocelyn Godwin's 'The Harmony of the Spheres: The Pythagorean Tradition in Music' was published in '92 by Inner Traditions Publ. This 512 page text along with his 'Music, Mysticism and Magic' in '86 and 'Harmonies of Heaven and Earth' in '87 comprise a trilogy of monumental importance.
Building from the foundation of these two previous works Joscelyn Godwin presents a treatise encapsulating all the arcane and mundane wisdom of the ages to come to a conclusion that we knew all along in our heart of hearts. There is no separation, no "I and Thou" in the universe. All is one and music is the hidden key to unlocking this ancient truth. The cosmos is a musical, harmonious entity (Adam Kadmon)!
His scholarship is beyond repute, his research exhaustive and his conclusions, well you decide.
Source Readings in Music.......2002-12-11
Yes, this is a highly specialized, scholarly, and esoteric collection but it contains the translated writings of philosophers of music not easily available. Not even the huge "Strunk's Source Readings (1998)" has the information which Godwin has collected and translated: Nicomachus, Pliny, Ptolemy, Kepler, Fludd; Arab writers Al-Safa, Al-Katib; the kabalist Ibn Latif. If you are a fan of Godwin's research as I am, these source readings will fill in the gaps in the history of music which is not taught. It is, however, a reference book first and foremost.
Book Description
This undergraduate-level introduction describes those mathematical properties of prime numbers that can be deduced with the tools of calculus. Jeffrey Stopple pays special attention to the rich history of the subject and ancient questions on polygonal numbers, perfect numbers and amicable pairs, as well as to the important open problems. The culmination of the book is a brief presentation of the Riemann zeta function, which determines the distribution of prime numbers, and of the significance of the Riemann Hypothesis.
Download Description
This undergraduate introduction to analytic number theory develops analytic skills in the course of studying ancient questions on polygonal numbers, perfect numbers and amicable pairs. The question of how the primes are distributed amongst all the integers is central in analytic number theory. This distribution is determined by the Riemann zeta function, and Riemann's work shows how it is connected to the zeroes of his function, and the significance of the Riemann Hypothesis. Starting from a traditional calculus course and assuming no complex analysis, the author develops the basic ideas of elementary number theory. The text is supplemented by series of exercises to further develop the concepts, and includes brief sketches of more advanced ideas, to present contemporary research problems at a level suitable for undergraduates. In addition to proofs, both rigorous and heuristic, the book includes extensive graphics and tables to make analytic concepts as concrete as possible.
Customer Reviews:
One of my favorite math books.......2007-06-24
A little background on me. I have just finished my freshman year of high school, and this was my first book on number theory. However, I have read many other math texts. In the beginning of the book there are some new concepts introduced, but they are not too hard to understand. The middle is refreshing as it involves a lot of calculus, which the student is most likely familiar with. The latter part consists of a variety of new ideas, and the theorems can get quite lengthy. I do not fully understand all of them myself. The book is well written and also includes the history of many mathematical problems.
For the senior math undergraduate.......2006-02-03
A great book for senior undergraduates in mathematics or anyone with some background in calculus and complex numbers. Proofs are at a level where a careful reading makes them clear, and the author tells the reader when he is not being rigorous. Historical background and logical development of topics makes this a good read too. Most surprising to me was how the author tied in topics from prior chapters into later chapters--he didn't just jump from one topic to the next willy-nilly, but made the book flow as a whole. Problems given to the reader were helpful though sometimes too hard for me, a math major.
A great bridge to analytic number theory.......2005-07-19
There seems to be a huge gap between the mathematical background required to understand a book on elementary number theory and that required to understand most books dealing with analytic number theory. This book assumes no familiarity with complex variables. The writing feels a bit like Silverman's "Friendly Introduction to Number Theory" and Derbyshire's "Prime Obsession." Stopple includes plenty of experiments for Mathematica and Maple. I think this could be a useful textbook for an undergraduate number theory course. The last few chapters include elliptic curves (mention is made of their L-functions and the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer conjecture) and binary quadratic forms. I recommend this book to anyone who can read (and for those who can't, this book is good motivation to become literate).
Book Description
One of the most important mathematical theorems is named after Pythagoras of Samos, but this semi-mythical Greek sage has more to offer than formulas. He is said to have discovered the numerical nature of the basic consonances and transposed the musical proportions to the cosmos, postulating a "harmony of the spheres." He may have coined the words "cosmos" and "philosophy." He is also believed to have taught the doctrine of transmigration of souls and therefore to have advised a vegetarian diet. Ancient legends have Pythagoras conversing with dogs, bears, and bulls. A distinctly Pythagorean way of life, including detailed ritual regulations, was observed by his disciples, who were organized as a secret society. Later, Pythagorean and Platonic teachings became fused. In this Platonized form, Pythagoreanism has remained influential through medieval Christianity and the Renaissance down to the present.
Christoph Riedweg's book is an engaging introduction to the fundamental contributions of Pythagoras to the establishment of European culture. To penetrate the intricate maze of lore and ascertain what history can tell us about the philosopher, Riedweg not only examines the written record but also considers Pythagoras within the cultural, intellectual, and spiritual context of his times. The result is a vivid overview of the life and teachings of a crucial Greek thinker and his most important followers.
Customer Reviews:
Pythagoras by Christoph Riedwig.......2007-07-30
It's a complete over-view of Pythagoras's philosopy. It gives the reader many insightful hints to deepen any matter, which he has found to be of particular interest for him.
Book Description
This anthology, the largest collection of Pythagorean writings ever to appear in English, contains the four ancient biographies of Pythagoras and over 25 Pythagorean and Neopythagorean writings from the Classical and Hellenistic periods.
Customer Reviews:
Well Beyond a Simple Theorem - The First Philosopher.......2006-09-03
"The Pythagorean Sourcebook and Library" is a fascinating entrance into world of the ancient ancients. My exposure to Pythagoras had been limited to his mathematical theorem taught in high school geometry. Kenneth Sylvan Guthrie excellent book brings the enormous range of Pythagoras' interests alive for the modern reader. Pythagoras' works in Harmonics, Number, Political Science, Education, and a host other important subjects were foundational ideas and concepts explored and modified by later thinkers. David Fideler's Introduction sets the stage for this modern, easy to read and understand translation that forms the substance of the book. Both the Translations and Introduction work to make this volume so appealing. Highly recommended for those who have ever wondered about those obscure references pointing to Pythagoras. A lover and student of Wisdom, Pythagoras claims the title First Philosopher.
Legumophobia.......2005-01-27
This is a pretty good book for starter material on Pythagoras and his disciples, though it is true that it does not contain every extant text. As far as I can tell, the texts it doesn't contain are in the bibliography. From reading the book, I've learned that Pythagoras was a most fanatical and overzealous ascetic, who apparently was not only a vegetarian but had some kind of grudge against beans. The explanation for his hatred towards the maligned legumes seemed to be rather disjointed and obscure. I can only come to the conclusion that anyone who is this much of an extremist must have been something of a madman, and that his followers must also be mad - and yet it appears he and they possessed many admirable qualities as well, and did the world a great service by preserving some very important information from other mystery schools.
Billed as complete, but is not.......2002-08-01
Although this book is excellent, it was billed as containing all existing fragments of ancient writings about Pythagoras, yet within the book itself, modern translations of ancient documents are mentioned that are not included. If something bills itself as complete, that is exactly what I expect. Nonetheless, I am glad I bought it, and would recommend it as one of the key works to own on Pythagoras.
Easy Selection To Make.......2002-03-02
This book contains translations of all material attributed to Pythagorus and extant works about him and his school--such as Laertius Diogenes. It is the only book you will need about this interesting man.
A required addition to the library of all philosophers.......2001-03-28
Pythagoras is arguably the father of western culture. Certainly his theories have had a profound effect on the development of mathematics, music, architecture, the visual arts, philosophy, qabalah, astrology, astronomy, and the list goes on. Much as today's fans of Plato refer to Aristotle as a mere shadow of the former great man, so too can fans of Pythagoras say the same of Plato. Pythagoras was the first man to call himself a philosopher -- a lover of wisdom.
This book contains translations of all of Pythagoras' extant work, as well as many short essays by his contemporaries and students. There are many diagrams and charts which serve to effectively clarify his ideas. Overall, this book is a must have for any who seek truth.
Book Description
These articles, both scholarly and sympathetic to the Pythagorean perspective, are proof of the contemporary interest in Pythagoras' philosophy as a living reality. Homage to Pythagoras is a major addition to the field of Pythagorean studies and traditional mathematics.
Here is a collection of essential documents by people at the leading edge of the sacred sciences in our time.
Book Description
From Ancient Greek times, music has been seen as a mathematical art, and the relationship between mathematics and music has fascinated generations. This collection of wide ranging, comprehensive and fully-illustrated papers, authored by leading scholars, presents the link between these two subjects in a lucid manner that is suitable for students of both subjects, as well as the general reader with an interest in music. Physical, theoretical, physiological, acoustic, compositional, and analytical relationships between mathematics and music are unfolded and explored with focus on tuning and temperament, the mathematics of sound, bell-ringing and modern compositional techniques.
Customer Reviews:
Expendable collection of essays.......2006-07-15
Only two chapters address fundamental mathematical-musical issues, namely decent chapters on the Pythagorean principles of consonance and scales and Helmholtz's theory of consonance. The rest of the book treats various quirky side topics, many of them trying in more or less contrived ways to force mathematical ideas (magic squares, finite projective planes, fractals, the Erlanger Programm, etc.) into a musical setting. Personally, I was amused by chapter 7 on bell-ringing: a bell-tower has a few different bells and of course "an evening spent playing unchanging rounds might be considered uneventful", so we wish to change the ringing order of our bells, but "because bells are heavy and slow" we are limited to changing the order one adjacent pair at a time, and so eighteenth century bell-ringers developed a sophisticated understanding of symmetric groups generated by transpositions, which we can now illustrate with modern concepts and Cayley diagrams and so on, only to conclude that the ringers "had been doing 'group theory' and 'ringing the cosets' all along". That's about as good as it gets. The book as a whole suffers from many shortcomings including lack of depth (e.g., chapter 2 on Kepler's musical cosmology doesn't contain a single line of mathematics), lack of breadth (e.g., Fourier analysis is not even in the index), and lack of originality (e.g., chapter 4 consists of recycled Ian Stewart material which in turn was mostly recycled Barbour material, down to consistent misspelling of the main character's name).
Book Description
A fascinating portrait of the Pythagorean tradition, including a substantial account of the Neo-Pythagorean revival, and ending with Johannes Kepler on the threshold of modernism.
Customer Reviews:
The best contemproary orthodox classicist work on Pythagoras.......2007-05-09
Kahn, a scholar's scholar, is a recognized authority on early Greek thought. Anyone studying the Presocratics must read his work. Because there are no extent texts, speculation on Pythagoras rests on ancient commentary and modern conjecture. Contemporary philosophy professors have attempted to debunk the philosphical and mathematical geuius of Pythagoras. However, Kahn's thoughtful and cautious work questions this standard dismissal.
The best short scholarly account of Pythagoreanism.......2005-03-28
Charles H. Kahn's account of the Pythagorean philosophical tradtion, although less than 200 pages long, is well worth reading as what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality. In a concise, but intelligent, summary, Kahn traces Pythagoreanism from its semi-legendary founder through to such early modern scientists as Copernicus and Kepler. As a young academic who specialises in the Pythagorean tradition I can recommend this work wholeheartedly to scholars, but as a Latinist I must say I was disapointed by Kahn's treatment (or lack of) of this strand of Western philosophy in late Roman and Medieval thought. But, this is still the best up to date history of Pythagoreanism available in the English language.
Books:
- White Guilt: How Blacks and Whites Together Destroyed the Promise of the Civil Rights Era
- Who Was Albert Einstein?
- A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines
- A Treatise of Human Nature
- American Bloomsbury: Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau: Their Lives, Their Loves, Their Work
- American Bloomsbury: Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau: Their Lives, Their Loves, Their Work
- American Bloomsbury: Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau: Their Lives, Their Loves, Their Work
- Andy & Me: Crisis And Transformation On The Lean Journey
- Apollo: The Epic Journey to the Moon
- Atoms in the Family: My Life with Enrico Fermi
Books Index
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General
| Math
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| Children's Books
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| Books
Sir Cumference and the Great Knight of Angleland: A Math Adventure (Sir Cumference)
Sir Cumference and the Isle of Immeter (Math Adventures)
Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi: A Math Adventure
Sir Cumference and the First Round Table: A Math Adventure
Sir Cumference and the Sword in the Cone: A Math Adventure
