The Non-Euclidean Revolution

How unique and definitive is Euclidean geometry in describing the “real” space in which we live? Richard Trudeau confronts the fundamental question of truth and its representation through mathematical models in The Non-Euclidean Revolution. First, the author analyzes geometry in its historical and philosophical setting; second, he examines a revolution every bit as significant as the Copernican revolution in astronomy and the Darwinian revolution in biology; third, on the most speculative level, he questions the possibility of absolute knowledge of the world. Trudeau writes in a lively, entertaining, and highly accessible style. His book provides one of the most stimulating and personal presentations of a struggle with the nature of truth in mathematics and the physical world. A portion of the book won the Pólya Prize, a distinguished award from the Mathematical Association of America. “Trudeau meets the challenge of reaching a broad audience in clever ways…(The book) is a good addition to our literature on non-Euclidean geometry and it is recommended for the undergraduate library.”–Choice (review of 1st edition) “…the author, in this remarkable book, describes in an incomparable way the fascinating path taken by the geometry of the plane in its historical evolution from antiquity up to the discovery of non-Euclidean geometry. This ‘non-Euclidean revolution’, in all its aspects, is described very strikingly here…Many illustrations and some amusing sketches complement the very vividly written text.”–Mathematical Reviews