by John Martineau

Walker Books, April, 2002.
Hardcover, 58 pages.
ISBN: 0802713882

A Little Book of Coincidence is all about the planets in our solar system and how their orbits relate to geometry. The "coincidences" are the interesting little facts that relate the orbits of the planets to geometry, mathematical facts and to music. The ancient mathematicians assigned seven musical notes to seven planets. Later mathematicians like Kepler were able to calculate how the orbits of the planets were related to music. The coincidences are fascinating little facts about numbers and their relationships to each other. This beautifully illustrated book can prod a long dormant passion for math in any reader. It might even tempt some readers to try to find that long since discarded toy of childhood called a Spirograph, and give it long overdue respect. Drawings at the end of the book show an amazing resemblance to this toy, but they are all about the ratios of the planets to their orbits. This short book can enhance not only the reader's appreciation of mathematics, but will bring up amazing facts about our planetary system and the amazing network of attractions that hold it together.

--Sarah Reaves White

A Little Book of Coincidence is available for purchase on Amazon.com

Note: We may receive a commission from sales made through product links in this article.

This review was published in the September, 2002 of The Internet Writing Journal.

Copyright © Writers Write, Inc. All Rights Reserved.