First published 2004
Mountains and clouds can now be described mathematically thanks to fractal geometry, which Benoît Mandelbrot assembled in 1975 from concepts with deep historical roots. This expanded edition includes a new chapter by Mandelbrot himself on fractal applications in financial markets. The book originated from filmmaker Nigel Lesmoir-Gordon's 1994 television documentary, which aired in over fifty countries despite significant funding challenges. Beyond celebrating the discovery of the Mandelbrot set, the work presents current thinking from leading fractal researchers and writers. Ian Stewart's opening chapter traces the mathematical foundations that preceded Mandelbrot's formal naming and theoretical development of the field. The edition features remastered fractal animations that accompany the enhanced content. The book serves both as historical documentation of a major mathematical breakthrough and as a survey of contemporary fractal geometry research.
Genres: science, popular-science, non-fiction, mathematics, art-history, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-nonfiction
Period: 1975, 1994
174 pages · Paperback · Clear Books