Geometry and the Imagination (AMS Chelsea Publishing)

The purpose of this book is very well described by the author in the preface.There Hilbert says "...In this book, it is our purpose to give a presentation of geometry, as it stands today, in its visual, intuitive aspects. With the aid of visual imagination we can illuminate the manifold facts and problems of geometry, and beyond this, it is possible in many cases to depict the geometric outline ot the methods of investigation and proof, without necessarily entering into the details connected with the strict definitions of concepts and with the actual calculations."A little further, he says "...This book was written to bring about a greater enjoyment of mathematics, by making it easier for the reader to penetrate to the essence of mathematics without having to weight himself down under a laborious course of studies."As a reader of this book, I can say that the key words are "visual imagination" and "enjoyment of mathematics".The purpose described by Hilbert is completely (and excellently) achieved.The book is a masterpiece, written by one of the masters of Mathematics.In an elegant and clear style, Hilbert explains the most beautiful geometrical concepts.When reading it, you feel as if Hilbert was sit down besides you, just talking about geometry to you, (maybe with the aid of a sheet of paper and a pencil), and you can grasp the genius of the Göttingen Professor.He does not use practically any formula or mathematical expression, however his prose is full of mathematical insights, geometrical facts, stimulating images and delicious "expository" proofs.All the chapters of the book are structured in a similar way: Hilbert exposes at the beginning the most elementary concepts of the subject, with plenty of "visual imagination" and mathematical ideas. Then, step by step, he goes further and deeper, connecting these ideas and images and generalizing them.The challenge for the reader is trying to follow Hilbert's thread of ideas until the end. It is not always easy but, after all, challenge is one of the ingredients of the "enjoyment of mathematics", isn't it?However, one thing is sure, you will enjoy the path, and when you get lost, you can read again the last paragraph and try to retake the thread of the exposition.I recommend this book very much. It is a joy to read, both for beginners and experienced mathematics.

I agree that this book, co-authored by the co-greatest mathematician of the first quarter of the twentieth century, is a masterpiece to be treasured and kept in print, as other reviewers have stated.However: The Preface states: "This book was written to bring about a greater enjoyment of mathematics, by making it easier for the reader to penetrate to the essence of mathematics without having to weight himself down under a laborious course of studies."All I can say is that if you read this and find it "easy," then you have terrific mathematical talent! Yes, the drawings and the intuitive descriptions are helpful, but much of the book is so obscure that I have been told that one of the world's leading geometers is working on an annotated edition explaining what the authors were talking about. On topics which I had already studied elsewhere, I found the presentation illuminating.I still recommend this book.

I have no complaints about the written content of this book. It is lovely. The print quality, however, is abysmal.It’s apparently a printed-on-demand copy, perhaps printed by Amazon directly, and the text is blurry throughout. The images are filled with gray splotches. I recently bought several Springer books which had the same problem, so it seems to be a trend across purchases of new math books from Amazon.I decided to return the book and pick up a 50-year-old used copy instead and there is a night-and-day quality difference. The old book has crisp text and lovely illustrations. It was also $20 cheaper.It is a shame that Amazon and/or the AMS is charging almost $50 for such a shoddy product, without anything on the product page to warn of the possibility of getting a print-on-demand book. Customers should watch out and be cautious about buying new hardcover technical books from Amazon.

The book is a thrilling journey in the wide (wild) world of geometry, instructive and sometimes illuminating, spanning an uncredible amount of concepts and subjects, enriched by splendid figures... But, but, by no means "easy".On the other hand, how can one ignore the work of such a giant of mathematics who's willing to guide you into his imagination ?

I fell in love right away, and you will, too. I highly recommend this book.

Everyone acquainted with math knows this book's content and accessible style has made it a classic.Anyone with a serious interest(occasional or consuming) in geometry should have this book handy.Anyone who confuses math with the style of exposition known as "Definition, Theorem, Proof" should read any page of this book.

As expected

Classical and very enlightening.

Cualquiera puede aprender de este libro, desde el principiante hasta el matemático consagrado, este libro te invita a usar tu imaginación y visualizar con la mente algunos conceptos de la geometría, lo cual hace accesible temas como topología o geometría diferencial de forma intuitiva, además de que el capítulo sobre geometría proyectiva es soberbio, sin duda un gran clásico de la literatura matemática.

We are in 1932, Hilbert is playing with geometry. You are about to understand why quantum mechanics books say that everything is happening at Hilbert’s space. Oras, seems that Hilbert dared to define all possible spaces. Was he a boundless thinker? In this book, he always starts with the simplest forms to end-up discussing how many x-order things there are. Using infinity power to some x to illustrate the algebraic nature of figures. Many figures. As a result, he will stretch your imagination to infinity and beyond (?).

It's a great book, but a mediocre print, the printing and the paper are awful. It should cost half of the price.

Easy to read!

Excellent