Impossible Objects: Amazing Optical Illusions to Confound & Astound

By J. Timothy Unruh

Book Overview

Impossible objects are figures that can be imagined and drawn but which cannot exist in the real world in actual physical form. This book explores the strange world of Impossibilia, that two-dimensional realm in which these graphic oddities can exist.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0806949961
• ISBN13: 9780806949963
• Release Date: June 2001
• Publisher: Sterling
• Length: 128 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.5" x 7.3"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

If you can 'see' it, it must exist! (???)

"Impossible Objects" is a 128 pp. book illustrating several classifications of optical illusions, known as 'Impossible objects'. While the drawings appear to be very possible, any attempt to construct one of these objects is doomed. While the book is not cheap, the quality of the drawings is fairly good. I give the book a four-star rating because it is very good, but could be better (by showing some of the Esher graphics utilizing these concepts.) Fair warning! Going through some of these representations is all too much like eating potato chips. it is tough to stop! Your mind may whirl for quite some time after each time that you put the book down.

These objects appear to have two or more contradictory properties

I love the confusion generated in me when I view optical illusions. Even though I understand the psychology of the human mind well enough to know what is causing the incongruity, I remain fascinated by seeing two or more things at once. This book is a collection of over 59 drawings of objects that appear to be more than one thing. Each is accompanied by a brief explanation of the object, including a name. For example, the "Outland Toaster" is an object that appears to have three pillars at the base and yet have four pillars at the top. The "Ridge-slotted block" has a raised segment at one end and a depressed segment at the other. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time looking at these figures, no matter how long I looked at them, there was never any resolution. If you enjoy optical illusions, then this is a book you should take a look at.