Start learning more about fractals

[dm4b]

Hi,

I'm curious to start learning more about fractals and am wondering what some of the classic/decent texts in the field are.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[DrewD]

http://classes.yale.edu/fractals/

Depending on what you already know, this may be too simple. Mandelbrot's book is obviously classic, but I have not actually read it; I don't know if it is any use for learning. Sorry, I don't have much info, but this page gives a good first look.

 

[Bacle2]

Have you tried: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fractals ?

 

[Stephen Tashi]

Mandelbrot's book is obviously classic, but I have not actually read it; I don't know if it is any use for learning.

I've read parts of Madelbrot's "The Fractal Geometry Of Nature". Many technical passages would only make sense to people famiiar with the mathematics of Brownian motion. It isn't organized as a textbook. There are more pretty pictures than technical text. It's more a "coffee table" book.

 

[micromass]

A nice book is https://www.amazon.com/dp/0486488705/?tag=pfamazon01-20 The book introduces most of its concepts, so it should be readable for a high-school student. However, I think that this high school student will struggle very hard. I recommend that you're familiar with metric spaces. If you are, then this book will pose no problems.

A more difficult book is https://www.amazon.com/dp/0387747486/?tag=pfamazon01-20 It covers a lot of nice things. However, it is much more difficult. I attempted to read this book as a freshman student and I got really frustrated. It doesn't help that every proof ends with a smiley that appears to be laughing at your ignorance.
Once you're familiar with topology and measure theory, then this book should be readable and the book will be excellent.