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The First Six Books Of The Elements Of Euclid: In Which Coloured Diagrams and Symbols Are Used Instead of Letters for the Greater Ease of Learners Hardcover – December 15, 2013

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 55 ratings

Primary elements: Euclid in living color Nearly a century before Mondrian made geometrical red, yellow, and blue lines famous, 19th century mathematician Oliver Byrne employed the color scheme for the figures and diagrams in his most unusual 1847 edition of Euclid's Elements. The author makes it clear in his subtitle that this is a didactic measure intended to distinguish his edition from all others: “The Elements of Euclid in which coloured diagrams and symbols are used instead of letters for the greater ease of learners.” As Surveyor of Her Majesty’s Settlements in the Falkland Islands, Byrne had already published mathematical and engineering works previous to 1847, but never anything like his edition on Euclid. This remarkable example of Victorian printing has been described as one of the oddest and most beautiful books of the 19th century.

Each proposition is set in Caslon italic, with a four-line initial, while the rest of the page is a unique riot of red, yellow, and blue. On some pages, letters and numbers only are printed in color, sprinkled over the pages like tiny wild flowers and demanding the most meticulous alignment of the different color plates for printing. Elsewhere, solid squares, triangles, and circles are printed in bright colors, expressing a verve not seen again on the pages of a book until the era of Dufy, Matisse, and Derain. Text in English, French, and German
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About the Author

Werner Oechslin (born 1944) studied art history, archaeology, philosophy and mathematics. After doctoral studies in Zurich in 1970 he taught at MIT and Harvard University. Since 1985 he has been a professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, where he led the Institute for the History and Theory of Architecture from 1986 to 2006. His research focuses on architectural theory and the cultural history of architecture. His most recent publication is Palladianismus: Andrea Palladio – Werk und Wirkung (2008). He is the founder of Bibliothek Werner Oechslin in Einsiedeln.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Taschen America Llc; Reprint edition (December 15, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ German, English, French
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 396 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 3836544717
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-3836544719
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.28 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.5 x 1.5 x 10.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 55 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
55 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book has great illustrations and a refreshing look at geometry. It explains many Euclid principles with nice pictures and diagrams. However, opinions differ on readability - some find it easier to understand and reduces tedium of tough arguments, while others say it makes it more difficult to read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

17 customers mention "Visual quality"17 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's visual quality. They praise the illustrations, production, and typography. The colors help explain geometric proofs, making it a must-have for graphic designers.

"This is a beautiful book to look at - it is an amazing piece of typography...." Read more

"A refreshing look at Geometry! All High School Math Teachers should buy it!" Read more

"...Was purchased for him at his request. He really likes the color illustrations. Not sure why, but a good choice for the math geek in your life!" Read more

"...It is beautiful! I really want to purchase books seven through thirteen!..." Read more

9 customers mention "Elucidation"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's elucidation. They find it helpful for math teachers and enthusiasts, as it explains Euclid principles with nice pictures. The book also cleans up diagrams and proof texts, providing great detail and showing how geometric constructions are possible.

"...Not sure why, but a good choice for the math geek in your life!" Read more

"...Using colors instead of labels really cleans up the diagrams and proof text...." Read more

"...Indirectly, it demonstrates how geometric constructions are possible...." Read more

"A must read for all geometry teachers and lovers of the subject. Oliver Byrne was way ahead of his time...." Read more

6 customers mention "Readability"3 positive3 negative

Customers have different views on the book's readability. Some find it easy to understand and say the preface explains everything clearly. Others feel the use of numbers instead of letters makes it more difficult to read.

"...All you have to do is look. It reduces the tedium of a tough argument to simple...." Read more

"...The language used can be difficult to read (I had no idea that 'conterminous' was even a word, let alone what it meant), so I've found it useful to..." Read more

"This is a fantastic book. The preface explains the whole thing. Using colors instead of labels really cleans up the diagrams and proof text...." Read more

"...however, the use of colors instead of letters makes it more difficult to read...." Read more

See-through Pages
1 out of 5 stars
See-through Pages
I must have received an unofficially printed copy but I am having a serious problem with the cheap paper my book is made from. I can completely see through each page.Unreadable :(
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2014
    This is a beautiful book to look at - it is an amazing piece of typography. The language used can be difficult to read (I had no idea that 'conterminous' was even a word, let alone what it meant), so I've found it useful to work through Byrne in conjunction with Heath's translation of The Elements. My original intention in purchasing Oliver Byrne's Six Books of Euclid was to work through Euclid with my children - I was hoping that it would be a more approachable text than Heath's translation. It is in many ways; however there are still many difficulties and subtleties that require concentrated effort. There is no easy road to enlightenment.
    There are various essays at the end of the book, but I felt that these were a distraction and could easily have been left out - I was after Euclid, and Euclid alone!
    Recommended if you like thinking about triangles.
    12 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2019
    A refreshing look at Geometry! All High School Math Teachers should buy it!
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2015
    Why didn't I think of this? Instead of trying to follow geometric proofs by tediously identifying what line segments and angles are being discussed, Byrne just color-coded them. All you have to do is look. It reduces the tedium of a tough argument to simple. The book cover shows the idea being used to illustrate the Pythagorean theorem. Great idea.

    My only complaint about the book is that the color renderings aren't as good as they should be. It's not enough of a problem to dock a star, but hopefully the publishers will make a more vibrantly colored edition. I'd buy it if they did.
    7 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2017
    Son loves this gift book. Was purchased for him at his request. He really likes the color illustrations. Not sure why, but a good choice for the math geek in your life!
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2016
    I really enjoy this edition. It is in some ways easier to read than a traditional publication. It is beautiful! I really want to purchase books seven through thirteen!
    Sometimes, however, the use of colors instead of letters makes it more difficult to read. The script, as should be expected, utilizes the antiquated form for "s." I also miss the commentary found in traditional publications, but this conversation is beyond the book's purpose.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2015
    This is a fantastic book. The preface explains the whole thing. Using colors instead of labels really cleans up the diagrams and proof text. If you compare one of the proofs from this book to a traditional one the advantage is clear. Even if you don't need to learn this material for school or work it is a beautiful book to browse.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2015
    I first saw this at the Morgan Library and I had to have it. I looked for a long time before I finally found it. It's a fetish object for me, a non-mathematician who loves mathematical ideas. I love it. It's gorgeous. It's a work of art (not a workaday textbook -- at least, not yet).
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2014
    The publisher's marketing copy is an accurate portrayal of this volume's worth, to designers, text book authors and educators. Would that a similarly lucent history be written to outline the evolution of Euclidian concepts from Egyptian fonts; or to chronicle how Hindu, Persian and Islamic cultures advanced and transmitted this knowledge forward unto the modern era. Hope springs eternal...
    4 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on November 16, 2017
    Awesome book
  • Kräutersammler
    5.0 out of 5 stars Euklid halt
    Reviewed in Germany on April 11, 2017
    Hat er gut gemacht, hat der Verlag und der Herausgeber gut gemacht.
    Wünschenswert wäre, wenn nun LeserInnen nachziehen.
    Ggf. macht sich das Buch für Ignoranten auch gut im Bücherschrank.
  • Alexis Ferrero
    4.0 out of 5 stars super ré-édition
    Reviewed in France on April 14, 2016
    ouvrage très intéressant, historiquement (doublement) & scientifiquement
    avec une qualité de l'édition impeccable
    et une approche graphique des théorèmes très instructive
  • Avid Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars ... his copy of this book and it is really beautiful so I bought it for a friend for Christmas
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 20, 2015
    a friend showed me his copy of this book and it is really beautiful so I bought it for a friend for Christmas. Best feedback of any gift this year as he loved it. As other people have said its a bit of a cross between Mondrian and a basic geometry text - beautiful to look at and originally drafted in the 19th Century. For anyone who loves maths or design or both it is really recommended.
  • Andrea Maffei
    4.0 out of 5 stars Da avere!
    Reviewed in Italy on March 10, 2014
    I sei libri di Euclide resi molto più leggibili attraverso l'uso di simbologia grafica e geometrica. Bello anche solo da sfogliare e guardare!