Crystal and Dragon: The Cosmic Dance of Symmetry and Chaos in Nature, Art and Consciousness

Crystal and Dragon, the title of this book, is the elegant metaphor used by David Wade for the primal dualities of form/flow, order/disorder, causality/chance, symmetry/asymmetry, reductionism/emergence. The book is a series of essays on the dance in which these fundamental dualities engage in the physical world and in the world of aesthetics. Wade's point of view is that from the perspective of our emerging scientific and philosophical understanding, it is the ever-changing intertwining of these polarities that is responsible for the dynamical patterns which make the amazing universe we know and of which we are a part.While the reductionism of classical science and physics has yielded enormous insights into the nature of things, it is emergent properties, essentially impossible to deduce from the parts, that make the world like it is. The book engages this theme on many levels and in many ways, not only in the realm of science, but also in art and philosophy. A considerable part of the book is given to a discussion of the art and philosophy of China, notably its taoist influences, that for centuries have valued dynamic flow and change between matching opposites as embodying the true essence of cosmic pattern.I fully agree with Wade's view that this is a fresh way of looking at the world, and that it is an important one that few of us truly appreciate.There is something very attractive about Crystal and Dragon. I have had a copy for most of its 20 odd years of existence and still find it rewarding and thought provoking, whether for sustained reading or just for dipping into. It is profusely illustrated and offers a wide-ranging cultural tour of art and science, past and present. Certainly the subject and message are as important as ever, and I think that in its scope and approachability the book remains unique.

Extraordinary, beautiful, profound, literate, accessible and with illustrations that greatly enhance the text.

I love Wadeʻs work, and in the Crystal and Dragon itʻs great to begin better understanding the various symbolic/sign systems and how they intersect.

Great read.

I buy a lot of books about these current theories about the brain, consciousness, the cosmos...and how it all relates to art and creativity.This book is especially good in bringing all of those together...following threads in many directions...and keeping them all connected by common idea of Symmetry. Definitely grounded on scientific information as well as knowledge of the symbolic, spiritual, mystical, and artistic associations. The author has an enthusiasm about this subject that is evident, and he wants to explain his insights and broad views in a way that will be clear and interesting. Excellent book.

I've had this book for some time and it's so rich that I can only dip into it at intervals. But it's a true masterpiece.