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andykhardy's review against another edition
5.0
Just a wonderful wacky introduction to real analysis, logic, and set theory. It dives head first into some wacky formal results like Dedekind cuts or Bolzano Weirestrass Theorem that are used to springboard even casual readers into the swamp of modern set theory, complete with a discussion of the Continuum Hypothesis.
The ending did feel quite abrupt and unfinished, but I guess that's why math departments still exist.
The ending did feel quite abrupt and unfinished, but I guess that's why math departments still exist.
bakudreamer's review against another edition
Just read some of this, will have to get back to it someday
ineffablebob's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
4.0
From the ancient Greeks to calculus to modern set theory, Everything and More traces where concepts of infinity have impacted major developments in math theory. Negatively, in many cases, preventing progress until someone came along who was able and willing to include infinite concepts in their view of the math world. Wallace includes both the history of how things changed as new ideas and methods were developed, and an explanation of those concepts in enough detail to understand. Yet it's not so detailed as to overwhelm the layman, which is quite the balancing act.
I have an bachelor's degree in mathematics (and computer science), but it has been a good 20 years since I did any formal studying in the area, and even when I was spending time every day on this stuff it was mostly in the area of discrete math. Which made the format of Everything and More perfect for me, as Wallace takes pains to explain the concepts and jargon as he goes along, such that someone without the background (or like me, who has forgotten much of it) can keep up. He also keeps the tone of the book light, for the most part, which helps when the concepts are complicated and one might be tempted to give up...the author is usually right there with an encouraging word or additional example to keep you going. I'll admit that I did not absorb everything in this first reading - I was able to understand as Wallace explained things, but it would take several more readings to really get all the ways that everything ties together, not to mention how much deeper you could go with many of the sources in the bibliography. I may very well pick this one up again, months or years down the line, and see what additional understanding I can glean.
Here are two quotes that I feel sum up the tone and direction nicely:
- from section 2d: "All of which is just resoundingly weird." This could describe a large number of the concepts covered!
- from section 7c: "The proof is both ingenious and beautiful - a total confirmation of art's compresence in pure math." The author's admiration for the accomplishments of the mathematicians really does come through, all the way through the book.
I have an bachelor's degree in mathematics (and computer science), but it has been a good 20 years since I did any formal studying in the area, and even when I was spending time every day on this stuff it was mostly in the area of discrete math. Which made the format of Everything and More perfect for me, as Wallace takes pains to explain the concepts and jargon as he goes along, such that someone without the background (or like me, who has forgotten much of it) can keep up. He also keeps the tone of the book light, for the most part, which helps when the concepts are complicated and one might be tempted to give up...the author is usually right there with an encouraging word or additional example to keep you going. I'll admit that I did not absorb everything in this first reading - I was able to understand as Wallace explained things, but it would take several more readings to really get all the ways that everything ties together, not to mention how much deeper you could go with many of the sources in the bibliography. I may very well pick this one up again, months or years down the line, and see what additional understanding I can glean.
Here are two quotes that I feel sum up the tone and direction nicely:
- from section 2d: "All of which is just resoundingly weird." This could describe a large number of the concepts covered!
- from section 7c: "The proof is both ingenious and beautiful - a total confirmation of art's compresence in pure math." The author's admiration for the accomplishments of the mathematicians really does come through, all the way through the book.
jodyjsperling's review against another edition
4.0
What can I say? Only Wallace could make math this abstract that interesting. I loved it.
rysuraski's review against another edition
2.0
His worst. And that's with me LOVING pop science and DFW. Was this even edited?
marcelo_fontoura's review against another edition
4.0
Exceptional book. Exceptional in a sense that not too many authors would like to explain a matter so complicated to readers not having a background related to the subject. Also, not many authors would try to do that while actually having a solid background themselves on the subject.
DFW is a great guide to the theories on the infinity. Mind you, it's a book about math, philosophy and logic. It's not a regular non-fiction read, since the idea is much more to really explore and explain the subject than to talk about 'factoids', as DFW puts it. That said, Neil Stephenson really nails it on the Introduction: the book is based on the ideia that you can explain anything to anyone, if you don't take your readers for idiots and really devote yourself. (BTW: said introduction is precious. Explores how the mind of the author works, and the context where it grew, in an admirable way).
It's not a book for understanding every little detail, but to follow the big picture. Sometimes, a given theory may seem too complicated (and they are), but DFW seems to acknowledge that, and remind you: "just hang on, you'll understand why this".
As for DFW's prose, it's beautiful. He mixes flowery language with slangs sometimes in the same sentence, the result being amazing and very fitting.
If you are from a logical/technical/numerical background, I strongly recommend this. If you're from the Humanities (like me), I recommend it if you are interested in learning more about different systems and ways of thought, based on logic. In this sense, it's very mind expanding.
The reason I'm giving 4 stars is because is not for everyone: it can get really heavy sometimes. P.S.: Don't miss the footnotes, some are gems.
DFW is a great guide to the theories on the infinity. Mind you, it's a book about math, philosophy and logic. It's not a regular non-fiction read, since the idea is much more to really explore and explain the subject than to talk about 'factoids', as DFW puts it. That said, Neil Stephenson really nails it on the Introduction: the book is based on the ideia that you can explain anything to anyone, if you don't take your readers for idiots and really devote yourself. (BTW: said introduction is precious. Explores how the mind of the author works, and the context where it grew, in an admirable way).
It's not a book for understanding every little detail, but to follow the big picture. Sometimes, a given theory may seem too complicated (and they are), but DFW seems to acknowledge that, and remind you: "just hang on, you'll understand why this".
As for DFW's prose, it's beautiful. He mixes flowery language with slangs sometimes in the same sentence, the result being amazing and very fitting.
If you are from a logical/technical/numerical background, I strongly recommend this. If you're from the Humanities (like me), I recommend it if you are interested in learning more about different systems and ways of thought, based on logic. In this sense, it's very mind expanding.
The reason I'm giving 4 stars is because is not for everyone: it can get really heavy sometimes. P.S.: Don't miss the footnotes, some are gems.