The Thirteen Books of the Elements, Vol. 1

📘 Book Details

• Author: Euclid

• Publisher: Dover

• Language: English

• Edition: 2nd Edition

• ISBN: 9780486600888

• Number of Pages: 443

• Cover: Paperback

• Dimensions: 8.3 x 6.0 x 1.2 inches

• Illustrations: Figures

📝 About the Book

The Elements of Euclid, published by Dover, is the definitive edition of one of the greatest classics in the history of mathematics. This unabridged republication of Euclid’s original work contains all 13 books of The Elements, presented with a critical apparatus that thoroughly analyzes each definition, postulate, and proposition in detail. Released on January 2, 2000, this second edition spans 443 pages and is designed to be a comprehensive guide for those seeking to study Euclid’s monumental work in its entirety.

This edition, based on the text established by Heiberg, is accompanied by a 151-page introduction that provides invaluable historical context. Sir Thomas Heath’s expert analysis incorporates almost 2,500 years of mathematical study, from classical to modern times. The book includes commentary on Euclid’s work from Greek, Islamic, medieval, Renaissance, and modern scholars, offering readers a well-rounded perspective on the subject.

Volume 1 covers Books I and II, focusing on straight lines, angles, triangles, and parallelograms, among other geometric concepts. Volume 2 (Books III to IX) delves into circles, tangents, ratios, proportions, polygons, prime numbers, and more, while Volume 3 (Books X to XIII) addresses complex geometric shapes, the method of exhaustion, and solid geometry, including pyramids, cones, and spheres.

The book also includes an appendix with Books XIV and XV, which are sometimes ascribed to Euclid, further enriching the content. As stated by the Encyclopaedia Britannica, "The textbook that shall really replace Euclid has not yet been written and probably never will be," underscoring the enduring legacy of this work.

This edition is essential for anyone interested in the foundational principles of geometry, as well as for students, historians, and scholars of mathematics seeking a thorough and authoritative exploration of Euclid’s enduring influence.