Metapatterns

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 16 OCT. 1995

Metapatterns, as defined by Volk, who teaches earth system science at New York University, are universal patterns that recur in nature, organisms, ecosystems, art, politics and society. In this open-ended, synthesizing inquiry in the tradition of R. Buckminster Fuller, Volk identifies 10 such archetypal patterns: spheres, borders, sheets and tubes, binaries, centers, layers, calendars, arrows, breaks, cycles. Spheres includes human embryos, stars, atoms, freshwater algae colonies, the cosmic egg of Greek and Neolithic myths; arrows manifest in acceleration, time, learning, individuation, evolution, the nuclear arms race; cycles encompass lunar movement, menstruation, the Buddhist Great Wheel, Earth's biogeochemical interactions, time patterns in Beethoven symphonies. Although the interconnections among these and other phenomena often appear arbitrary or tangential, Volk gives us new ways of thinking about and looking at the world. Intriguingly illustrated with computer and hand drawings, collages and photographs, his lyrical meditation will appeal to scientists, New Age types, interdisciplinary thinkers and the intellectually adventurous. BOMC and Natural Science Book Club selections.