This book, lovingly written and highly accessible, embraces the often unheralded notion that mathematics contains ideas that can, and deserve, to be communicated to a wider public - even if what is communicated is at the level of appreciation rather that practical knowledge. Put simply, it is a book about the wavelet transform, that strange and scientifically intriguing new method of encoding information with an abundance of practical applications.

Drawing on interviews with leading wavelet researchers in the United States and France, it tells the story of the meteoric rise of this new field from its scattered beginnings a decade ago to its current status as a hot topic cutting across traditional scientific boundaries. But more than that, this book is a wonderfully successful attempt to entice the non-mathematical reader into formerly uncharted territory without sacrificing precision.

The material is masterfully organized so mathematical details can be assimilated at one's own pace; the main text is devoid of formulas and relates a story of people and ideas, while separate boxes and appendices contain intricate discussions for the more mathematically adventurous.