1: The beauty of geometry is captured
Originally published in 1942, this book has lost none of its power in the last half century. It is a commentary on the recent demise of geometry in many curricula that 33 years elapsed between the publication of the fifth and sixth editions. Fortunately, like so many things in the world, trends in mathematics are cyclic, and one can hope that the geometric cycle is on the rise. We in mathematics owe so much to geometry. It is generally conceded that much of the origins of mathematics is due to the simple necessity of maintaining accurate plots in settlements. The only book from the ancient history of mathematics that all mathematicians have heard of is the Elements by Euclid. It is one of the most read books of all time, arguably the only book without a religious theme still in widespread use over 2000 years after the publication of the first edition. The geometry taught in high schools today is with only minor modifications found in the Euclidean classic.
There are other reasons why geometry should occupy a special place in our hearts. Most of the principles of the axiomatic method, the concept of the theorem and many of the techniques used in proofs were born and nurtured in the cradle of geometry. For many centuries, it was nearly an act of faith that all of geometry was Euclidean. That annoying fifth postulate seemed so out of place and yet it could not be made to go away. Many tried to remove it, but finally the Holmsean dictum of ,"once you have eliminated the impossible, what is left, not matter how improbable, must be true", had to be admitted. There were in fact three geometries, all of which are of equal validity. The other two, elliptic and hyperbolic, are the main topics of this wonderful book.
Coxeter is arguably the best geometer of this century but there can be no argument that he is the best explainer of geometry of this century. While fifty years is a mere spasm compared to the time since Euclid, it is certainly possible that students will be reading Coxeter far into the future with the same appreciation that we have when we read Euclid. His explanations of the non-Euclidean geometries is so clear that one cannot help but absorb the essentials. In so many ways, Euclidean geometry is but the middle way between the two other geometries. A point well made and in great detail by Coxeter.
Geometry is a jewel that was born on the banks of the Nile river and we should treasure and respect it as the seed from which so much of our basic reasoning processes sprouted. For this reason, you should buy this book and keep a copy on your shelf.
Published in Smarandache Notions Journal, reprinted with permission.
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