Synopses & Reviews
Mathand#8217;s infinite mysteries and beauty unfold in this follow-up to the best-selling The Science Book. Beginning millions of years ago with ancient and#8220;ant odometersand#8221; and moving through time to our modern-day quest for new dimensions, it covers 250 milestones in mathematical history. Among the numerous delights readers will learn about as they dip into this inviting anthology: cicada-generated prime numbers, magic squares from centuries ago, the discovery of pi and calculus, and the butterfly effect. Each topic gets a lavishly illustrated spread with stunning color art, along with formulas and concepts, fascinating facts about scientistsand#8217; lives, and real-world applications of the theorems.
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Review
Praise for
The Math Book and Clifford Pickover:
and#8220;Pickover contemplates realms beyond our known reality.and#8221;--The New York Timesand#8220;I can't imagine anybody whose minds won't be stretched by [Pickover's] books.and#8221;--Arthur C. Clarke"Bucky Fuller thought big, Arthur C. Clarke thinks big, but Cliff Pickover outdoes them both.and#8221;--WIRED
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Review
and#8220;From party conversation fodder to the esoteric, topics and authors appear and reappear all in the articulate, clever voice that can be expected from the New York Timesand#8230;Many fascinating problems are explained in language that the layperson will understand, without relying on equations; those with more than a passing interest in mathematics will find many topics of interest worthy of further reading. This compilation of real-world applications will interest those with an inclination toward mathematics or problem-solving.and#8221; and#8212;Publishers Weeklyand#160;and#8220;Collecting articles of a mathematics bent from three centuries of pieces found in America's most celebrated daily newspapers, Kolata (senior writer, New York Times, Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus that Cause It) displays her expertise as an editor in a book that is both a history of modern mathematicsand#8212;as an academic, social, and political phenomenonand#8212;and a Who's Who of great science/math writers . . .and#160;The book is divided into thematic sections andand#160;. . .and#160;Among topics covered are the National Security Agency's (NSA's) threats to mathematicians writing papers with code-breaking applications; the celebrated story of Andrew Wiles's proof of Fermat's Last Theorem; Grigori Perelman's confirmation of the Poincare conjecture and his subsequent, Bobby Fischer-like, disappearance. These articles, both feature pieces and news reports, were all written at the time of what they cover, thus offering an immediacy lacking in some popular histories. Some of the pieces included here are important and some are curiosities, but all are absorbing. Verdict: Recommended for casual and serious math enthusiasts.and#8221;and#8212;Library Journal
Synopsis
Because learning the language of mathematics can be daunting, many people abandon the attempt as soon as they leave school, missing out on the beauty and mystery of the Empress of the Sciences. Now, Joel Levy opens new doors into this amazing world. By taking a historical perspective, he explains how mathematical science advanced through the ages, introducing the most important conceptsand#8212;from simple arithmetic, through algebra, trigonometry, geometry, and calculus, up to chaos and infinity theoryand#8212;in understandable, nontechnical language.
Synopsis
Because learning the language of mathematics can be daunting, many people simply abandon the attempt. By taking a historical perspective, Joel Levy opens new doors into this amazing world. In understandable, nontechnical language, he explains how mathematical science advanced through the ages and introduces crucial concepts, from simple arithmetic through algebra, trigonometry, geometry, and calculus, up to chaos and infinity theory.
Synopsis
Explore the most intriguing, far-reaching, and pressing issues in popular science today! The Big Questions in Science translates complicated concepts into understandable language, providing insight into such matters as the nature of consciousness, whether other universes exist, and how we can beat bacteria. Every question speaks to our sense of wonder and desire to know more about ourselves and our universe.
Synopsis
Mathand#39;s infinite mysteries unfold in this paperback edition of the bestselling TheMath Book. Beginning millions of years ago with ancient andldquo;ant odometersandrdquo; and moving through time to our modern-day quest for new dimensions, prolific polymath Clifford Pickover covers 250 milestones in mathematical history. Among the numerous concepts readers will encounter as they dip into this inviting anthology: cicada-generated prime numbers, magic squares, and the butterfly effect. Each topic is presented in a lavishly illustrated spread, including formulas andand#160;real-world applications of the theorems.
Synopsis
From the archives of the world's most famous newspaper comes a collection of its very best writing on mathematics. Big and informative, The New York Times Book of Mathematics gathers more than 110 articles written from 1892 to 2010 that cover statistics, coincidences, chaos theory, famous problems, cryptography, computers, and many other topics. Edited by Pulitzer Prize finalist and senior Times writer Gina Kolata, and featuring renowned contributors such as James Gleick, William L. Laurence, Malcolm W. Browne, George Johnson, and John Markoff,and#160;it's a must-have for any math and science enthusiast!
About the Author
Gina Kolata is a senior writer at the
New York Times, where she reports on science and medicine; a bestselling author; a frequent lecturer; and a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist. She has written several books, including
Rethinking Thin: The New Science of Weight Lossand#8212;and the Myths and Realities of Dieting (Farrar, Straus and Giroux), which was a finalist for the Quill book awards, and the national bestseller
Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus that Caused It (Farrar, Straus and Giroux).and#160;Paul Hoffman is the host of the PBS television series
Great Minds of Science andand#160;the president and CEO of Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey, as well as the author of several books including
King's Gambit: A Son, a Father, and the World's Most Dangerous Game (Hyperion) and the international bestseller
The Man Who Loved Only Numbers: The Story of Paul Erdand#246;s and the Search for Mathematical Truth (Hyperion). He was the editor in chief of
Discover for 10 years as well as president and publisher of
Encyclopedia Britannica, and is a puzzlemaster (under the pseudonym Dr. Crypton) and a class-A level chess player.