The Golden Ratio: The Divine Beauty of Mathematics

I think this is the first book I’ve read about Phi (or, the golden ratio, or 1.618) and it was pretty impressive. I think there’s some fairly solid evidence that demonstrates this has been a recurring theme through history, either kept as a secret for the intellectually privileged, or as a forgotten habit that was inherited from an earlier time. I don’t know where I stand as to what the golden ratio really is. Maybe it’s just a pattern of measurement that we can overlay onto things, like an inch? But then again, if the golden ratio can lend value to things like the construction of plants and organisms, for whatever reason, then it must have some foundation in physical reality. Whatever that means.

I thought the book did a good job demonstrating Phi’s prevalence throughout life. It didn’t do such a good job at exploring possible explanations, but to be fair that’s a pretty big job in itself. You have to start addressing things like philosophy of beauty, which he attempts to do in little spurts. Something I would like to explore is how I can employ Phi in my own works. Can I actually use it to predict financial trends? Can I incorporate it into my visual arts to create a sense of balance, unity, and divinity? I don’t know. Nevertheless, it’s very intriguing. I don’t think this will be the last book I read about Phi.