The Book of Trees, Visualizing Branches of Knowledge ( Princeton Architectural Press)

Published by Princeton Architectural Press, 2014, hardcover, illustrated, 208 pages, condition: new.

Our critically acclaimed bestseller Visual Complexity was the first in-depth examination of the burgeoning field of information visualization. Particularly noteworthy are the numerous historical examples of past efforts to make sense of complex systems of information. In this new companion volume, The Book of Trees, data viz expert Manuel Lima examines the more than eight hundred year history of the tree diagram, from its roots in the illuminated manuscripts of medieval monasteries to its current resurgence as an elegant means of visualization. Lima presents two hundred intricately detailed tree diagram illustrations on a remarkable variety of subjectsfrom some of the earliest known examples from ancient Mesopotamia to the manuscripts of medieval monasteries to contributions by leading contemporary designers. A timeline of capsule biographies on key figures in the development of the tree diagram rounds out this one-of-a-kind visual compendium.

Lima was named one of the "fifty most creative and influential minds of 2009" by Creativity magazine. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the New Yorkbased design lead for Codeacademy.

A walk through the use of tree diagrams and related techniques as memory aids and data visualizations, from illuminated manuscripts to modern technology. Gorgeous illustrations.