The Bones

by Euclid

A handy where-to-find-it pocket reference companion to Euclid's Elements. Provides all the propositions and diagrams without the detailed proofs. Readers can use it to see the scope and structure of Elements, identify exactly what Euclid covers and what he doesn't, and to find the location of remembered propositions.

Genres: Mathematics, Ancient, Classics, Science, Nonfiction, History

212 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

About the author

Euclid (Ancient Greek: Εὐκλείδης Eukleidēs -- "Good Glory", ca. 365-275 BC) also known as Euclid of Alexandria, was a Greek mathematician, often referred to as the "Father of Geometry". He was active in Alexandria during the reign of Ptolemy I (323–283 BC). His Stoicheia (Elements) is a 13-volume exploration all corners of mathematics, based on the works of, inter alia, Aristotle, Eudoxus of Cnidus, Plato, Pythagoras. It is one of the most influential works in the history of mathematics, presenting the mathematical theorems and problems with great clarity, and showing their solutions concisely and logically. Thus, it came to serve as the main textbook for teaching mathematics (especially geometry) from the time of its publication until the late 19th or early 20th century. In the Elements, Euclid deduced the principles of what is now called Euclidean geometry from a small set of axioms. Euclid also wrote works on perspective, conic sections, spherical geometry, number theory and rigor. He is sometimes credited with one original theory, a method of exhaustion through which the area of a circle and volume of a sphere can be calculated, but he left a much greater mark as a teacher.

Reviews

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that should be in every mathematical library, academic and personal. It contains a distillation of "Euclid's Elements"; all the common notions, definitions, postulates, and propositions. All that is missing are the proofs. As such, it is the best quick geometry reference in existence and has been placed on my reference shelf where it will remain until it is wore out and I need to purchase another copy. I would argue that it is the most significant 200 pages of published mathematics now in existence.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission and this review appears on Amazon.

[Arkar Kyaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

If more people would read Euclid, the world will be a better place.