Quadrivium: The Four Classical Liberal Arts of Number, Geometry, Music, & Cosmology (Wooden Books)

This book, for the most part, is incredibly accurate. I have not completed it yet, but I have found one error in the book that seems to speak volumes as to what kind of research went into this book; the kind of research being biased research. The bias is light-medium. For example, on page 18 it is talking about the number 4, the number of manifestation (according to the mystical interpretation of numbers) and to further this point ancient philosophers have theorized that all matter is made up of 4 parts (Fire, Air, Earth, Water). Now this book wants to fit in with modern science so they make the claim that all matter is made up of protons, neutrons, electrons, and neutrinos. This is wrong for a few reasons, most notably is the mention of neutrinos, which barely interact with matter at all (a simple Google search will tell you) and are only created during nuclear reactions (so they don't really have much to do with ordinary matter at all). But the author obviously wanted there to be 4 particles that make up all matter, so the author included neutrinos even though they do not really fit. However, if the author did more research, they would have found that there are 3 particles that make up all matter; up quarks, down quarks, and electrons. Thus we see that matter is actually of 3, or the second unity, and when you add time for a total of 4, that is when you get the manifestation of our universe. So the book is not wrong about what the numbers represent, it just tried too hard to force the point where it did not fit. Had the author done more research I am sure they would have come to the same conclusion as myself. Perhaps there was a tight deadline?I still love this book because mistakes like this have been few so far (really this is the only one I've blatantly noticed). It will have me fact cheking everything else in the book, which will take me a bit longer to work through, but hopefully the extra work ends up being a blessing and I learn a bit more because of it. I feel those buying the book should know before hand that this book is not perfect, though it is close. Hence the 4 stars.I would still highly recommend it.

This is one of my favourite books. Great quality, with wonderful images and interesting text. I used it during my Fine Art degree as I was working between the boundaries of mathematics, science, and art: and that is where I would place the topics of this book. It is good value for money as it contains 6 of the smaller books which were £5.99 each and this book was £10.49 (at my time of purchase, early 2016). When I get the time I would love to delve more deeply into the subjects it discusses, but for the time being, this is a great introduction!

Cannot recommend this book too highly. For anyone who built dodecahedra at school or who enjoys number patterns or who appreciates the numerical basis of music. Which is basically nerds like me.

This is a really high-quality book, so I'm very pleased I got it for such good value. It was given as a gift, and hopefully enjoyed. I know I would have loved to receive it! Maybe I can buy another as a present to myself...

This is ,like the Trvium a superb collection under one cover.Still reading it though.