On Growth and Form
On Growth and Form, published in 1917, is the book in which the Scottish zoologist D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson asked why living things have the shapes they do and answered with mathematics and physics rather than with natural selection. He shows how the spiral of a snail shell, the branching of a horn, the arrangement of leaves, the shapes of cells and of soap bubbles, the architecture of bone and the outlines of fish can be described by simple geometric and mechanical laws, and he introduces the method of transformed coordinates for comparing related forms. The book had little immediate effect on biology and a lasting one on architects, artists and mathematicians, and it is written with a classical scholar's grace. It is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, with the first chapter free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about On Growth and Form
On Growth and Form by D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read On Growth and Form online?
Yes. On Growth and Form opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is On Growth and Form free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of On Growth and Form is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is On Growth and Form in the public domain?
Yes. On Growth and Form by D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read On Growth and Form?
About 18 h 12 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is On Growth and Form?
On Growth and Form by D'Arcy Wentworth Thompson is filed under "Classics" in the Vinteuil library.
