Eli Maor examines the role of infinity in mathematics and geometry and
its cultural impact on the arts and sciences. He evokes the profound
intellectual impact the infinite has exercised on the human mind--from
the "horror infiniti" of the Greeks to the works of M. C. Escher; from
the ornamental designs of the Moslems, to the sage Giordano Bruno, whose
belief in an infinite universe led to his death at the hands of the
Inquisition. But above all, the book describes the mathematician's
fascination with infinity--a fascination mingled with puzzlement. "Maor
explores the idea of infinity in mathematics and in art and argues that
this is the point of contact between the two, best exemplified by the
work of the Dutch artist M. C. Escher, six of whose works are shown here
in beautiful color plates".--Los Angeles Times "[Eli Maor's]
enthusiasm for the topic carries the reader through a rich
panorama".--Choice "Fascinating and enjoyable.... places the ideas of
infinity in a cultural context and shows how they have been espoused and
molded by mathematics".--Science