A curious inhabitant of a two-dimensional world has his mind blown by the discovery of higher dimensions. Playful, profound, and enduringly imaginative, Flatland turns geometry into an adventure—and a sly critique of society.
Have you read this book? Share what you liked (or didn’t), and we’ll use your answers to recommend your next favorite read!
These picks are popular with readers who enjoyed this book. Complete a quick Shelf Talk to get recommendations made just for you! Warning: possible spoilers for Flatland below.
If you enjoyed Flatland's sharp satirical take on Victorian society and the absurdities of closed-mindedness through the eyes of A Square, you'll delight in Gulliver's Travels. Swift's classic whisks Lemuel Gulliver to strange lands like Lilliput and Brobdingnag, using fantastical settings and biting wit to lampoon human nature, politics, and the limits of perception.
If the mathematical imagination and conceptual leaps about dimensions in Flatland fascinated you, Sphereland offers a brilliant extension. Burger crafts a sequel-like tale where the inhabitants of Flatland grapple with the idea of even higher dimensions, deepening the playful exploration of geometry and the boundaries of perception.
If the probing philosophical questions about society, reality, and the limitations of perspective in Flatland resonated with you, The Dispossessed will captivate. Le Guin tells the story of Shevek, a physicist torn between two radically different worlds, and uses his journey to explore deep questions about freedom, society, and the nature of existence.
If you were drawn to Flatland's use of shapes and geometry as allegory for social hierarchy and critique, Animal Farm takes a similar approach. Orwell’s novella uses talking animals on a farm as stand-ins for real-world social and political dynamics, delivering a powerful, accessible allegory about power, equality, and corruption.
If you appreciated Flatland's use of transformation and alienation to reflect on societal norms—like A Square's bewildering encounters with other dimensions—The Metamorphosis offers a hauntingly intimate allegory. As Gregor Samsa awakens as a monstrous insect, Kafka explores the absurdities of social roles, identity, and the limits of empathy in a symbolic, thought-provoking way.
Unlock your personalized book recommendations! Just take a quick Shelf Talk for Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott. It’s only a few questions and takes less than a minute.