African Fractals: Modern Computing and Indigenous Design

I didn't expect to come away with a solid understanding of Theoretical Computer Science...but here I am.

While the text is interesting, useful and challenging, I am very disappointed with the quality of the photographs in this 2005 printing of African Fractals.Many of the black and white photographs are virtually unreadable - it is very difficult to see any detail - which is the whole point of the illustrations.The following are all, at least in part, have detail obscured by very bad reprinting process:2.1, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 3.1, 4.3, 4.4, 5.2, 5.4, 5.7, 6.1, 6.2, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.8, 6.9, 7.3, 7.4, 7,10, 7.14, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.9, 8.10, 8.16, 8.20, 10.10, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.7, A3.I obtained a copy of an earlier (1999) edition from the Pitt Rivers Museum at the Bodleian Library at Oxford, where the reproduction of the black and white photographs, although not all perfect, are very much better.In these days I would expect the reprinting technology to produce a much better edition of this interesting bookI would not recommend this reprint of 2005 to anyone who s seriously interested in ethnography .

I have used this book several semesters for teaching philosophy of science, social science methods, and Southern African political economy. It quickly demonstrates that the colonizers understood little or nothing about 'messy, irregular' African villages; it was Euclidean geometry which kept them from seeing. African engineering using fractals, such as the fractal-measured fence weave to match the wind, is amazing. We still have very much to learn from African peoples and this book gets Americans started on a journey long past due. Read this book if you want a different way of viewing the world, from hairstyles to sculpture to urban planning.

I had Ron Eglash as a professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Discussing and analyzing aspects of this book, including self-organization in general, was very interesting and valuable to say the least. The book makes no assumptions in knowledge and will cleanly bring in the topic of fractals in african culture. I had read the book the winter break before taking the course and had no difficulty understanding the material even as a freshman. The concept is quite intriguing and shatters many of the held perceptions of "the hierarchy of mathematics." Ron Eglash is a great man and I know he loves talking with people that share similar interests in mathematics or cybernetics.

The book is easy to read despite the technical aspects of the subject. It is very informative and eye-opening. It's a shame there aren't more people doing this kind of work. I would recommend this everyone, and especially to African, African-descent designers and design students because design inspiration doesn't have to be only Euro-centric.

This book is on the appearance of patterns in African culture, which resemble fractals. It is thorough. I heard about this from a Dan Winters lecture. I wish the author would look at other cultures, to do the same thing.

I buy it because I like math and geometry. I'm really fascinating by fractals applied at design and architecture. The book was in good conditions, but not perfect. The pack was very weak. :(

A truly insightful study of the shared qualities evident in African art. Whether a scholar, student or just curious this is a great book. Watch the Ron Eglash TED lecture first.

This is a good book so far as the text goes, but the pictures are very disappointing.The text is an interesting review of fractals, mostly familiar territory but with some new insights. The biggest 'new insight' for me was the African strand to the story. In so many ways Ron Eglash shows fractal ideas turning up in African arts and communities. It is well written, thought provoking and deeply interesting.However, the pictures are all monochrome, and not even good quality monochrome. For example, I have a length of Ghanaian cloth at home which is woven in gorgeous, vibrant and contrasting colours. It has the scaling patterns explained in this book. The text tells me a lot that I did not know about this beautiful piece of weaving and adds to my appreciation of it. The illustration accompanying the text, by contrast, lacks contrast. It is a dark and murky black and white photo in poor focus. At every turn, whether showing sculptures or village landscapes, the intelligent, lively text is accompanied by dull and unattractive photography.Clearly the cost of full colour illustrations would be hard to bear for a book which is unlikely to have massive sales. But it would improve the book enormously to have better pictures. Even getting 'monochrome in good focus' would be a step forward.Five stars for the writing, only one for the pictures.

perfetto cosi come sia presenta nella descrizione. consegna effettuata nei tempi previsti, articolo ben protetto.dal punto di vista dei contenuti .. il libro è molto bello! sicuramente da consigliare

C'est la première fois que je lis un livre qui fasse une représentation mathématique des connaissances (architectures, design, cosmologies, etc.) africaines.