The Pursuit of Perfect Packing

In 1998 Thomas Hales dramatically announced the solution of a problem that has long teased eminent mathematicians: what is the densest possible arrangement of identical spheres? The Pursuit of Perfect Packing recounts the story of this problem and many others that have to do with packing things together. The examples are taken from mathematics, physics, biology, and engineering, including the arrangement of soap bubbles in foam, atoms in a crystal, the architecture of the bee's honeycomb, and the structure of the Giant's Causeway. Using an informal style and with key references, the book also includes brief accounts of the lives of many of the scientists who devoted themselves to problems of packing over many centuries, together with wry comments on their efforts. It is an entertaining introduction to the field for both specialists and the more general public.

"This is a timely book . . . In general, materials scientists and engineers venturing into the world of nano-structures should read this book as a general introduction to a fascinating field." T M Sabine, Consultant Physicist in The Physicist "It is an entertaining introduction to the field for both specialists and the more general public." Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie "This book is full of goodies. It is a romp through and around sphere packings and its relatives. From the catchy titles of the sections to the charming photographs, anecdotes, verses, quotes, snipettes of philosophy there is so much to enjoy. . . All the diagrams and the many photographs of models are excellent." William Moser in Zentralblatt Math "This is an excellent read!" Short Book Reviews "highly recommended" Issue" ..the reader will want to return to it often to treasure its various little gems. I found it a most delightful book" The London Mathematical Society "The alliterative title sets the tone for this largely historical, sometimes witty, discussion of attempts to find the densest arrangements of various objects. There are some mathematical details, but minimal technical background is needed. There is also gossip. I recommend this book to anyone, specialist or not, interested in the subject ... Packing problems range from squeezing items into refrigerators to David Hilbert's 18th problem: finding the densest packing of an intinite number of equal solids ... I like this book and recommend it to any educated layman." David P Maroun in Physics in Canada s a timely book . . . In general, materials scientists and engineers venturing into the world of nano-structures should read this book as a generalintroduction to a fascinating field." T M Sabine, Consultant Physicist in The Physicist "It is an entertaining introduction to the field for both specialists and the more general public." Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie "This book is full of goodies. It is a romp through and around sphere packings and its relatives. From the catchy titles of the sections to the charming photographs, anecdotes, verses, quotes, snipettes of philosophy there is so much to enjoy. . . All the diagrams and the many photographs of models are excellent." William Moser in Zentralblatt Math "This is an excellent read!" Short Book Reviews "highly recommended" Issue" ..the reader will want to return to it often to treasure its various little gems. I found it a most delightful book" The London Mathematical Society "The alliterative title sets the tone for this largely historical, sometimes witty, discussion of attempts to find the densest arrangements of various objects. There are some mathematical details, but minimal technical background is needed. There is also gossip. I recommend this book to anyone, specialist or not, interested in the subject ... Packing problems range from squeezing items into refrigerators to David Hilbert's 18th problem: finding the densest packing of an intinite number of equal solids ... I like this book and recommend it to any educated layman." David P Maroun in Physics in Canada