Why does nature prefer some shapes and not others? The variety of sizes,
shapes, and irregularities in nature is endless. Skillfully integrating
striking full-color illustrations, the authors describe the efforts by
scientists and mathematicians since the Renaissance to identify and
describe the principles underlying the shape of natural forms. But can
one set of laws account for both the symmetry and irregularity as well
as the infinite variety of nature's designs? A complete answer to this
question is likely never to be discovered. Yet, it is fascinating to see
how the search for some simple universal laws down through the ages has
increased our understanding of nature. The Parsimonious
Universe looks at examples from the world around us at a
non-mathematical, non-technical level to show that nature achieves
efficiency by being stingy with the energy it expends.