Synopses & Reviews
Improbable? Yes. Impossible? No an irreverent, entertaining, readable, and completely understandable explanation of lofty mathematical ideas.
By starting in the familiar world and using a few simple steps of imagination, Edward B. Burger and Michael Starbird sneak up on weighty mathematical ideas. The spirals on a pineapple quickly lead to the famous Fibonacci numbers and the alluring Golden Ratio and from there to aesthetic forms in nature, art, and music. The edge of a twisted strip of paper leads to an image of the shape of the universe. Playing with the notion of probability demonstrates that surprising coincidences such as the amazing parallels between the Lincoln and Kennedy assassinations are sure to happen. These and other foreign and familiar mysteries share two features they appear inexplicable and they are all explained with great humor and clarity in this book. Perhaps the greatest surprise is that these travels require no math background. If you never thought you would read about mathematics, this book is for you. 160 illustrations.
Review
"The gags and the countless puns may strain, but the teaching is lucid and accessible. Throughout, the illustrations make excellent additions as the authors enumerate the charms and grandeurs of numbers. A bit of math in a nutshell, totaling fun." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Burger and Starbird don't bludgeon readers with number theory, geometry, or topology; they take up origami or spin a yarn about a tsetse fly. A profusely illustrated, bemusingly unorthodox introduction to math." Booklist
Review
"Informative, intelligent, and refreshingly irreverent. A roller-coaster ride along the frontiers of today's mathematics. I enjoyed it immensely." Ian Stewart, author of Flatterland
Synopsis
By starting in the familiar world and using a few simple steps of imagination, Burger and Starbird sneak up on weighty mathematical ideas in familiar mysteries that share two features they appear inexplicable and they are all explained with great humor and clarity in this book.
About the Author
Edward B. Burger (Williams College) and Michael Starbird (University of Texas at Austin) are award-winning professors, authors, and speakers.