The Wonder Book of Geometry: A Mathematical Story

摘要

I first encountered Acheson's work as an undergraduate where his textbook Elementary Fluid Mechanics was used in several of my modules. In the period since I have read several of his other books, and more lately he has written a number of books designed to popularise mathematics of which this is the latest. The overall aim of the book is to present geometry in such a way as to allow a layperson to 'begin to enjoy the wonders of geometry -within just half an hour of starting' (p. 3); an interesting claim. Acheson starts by defining 'parallel lines' and making two assumptions (p. 5): 1) If two lines are parallel, the corresponding angles are equal. 2) If corresponding angles are equal, the two lines are parallel.