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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
I wish I read this book during my school days. Books like this are important, if not crucial for those exploring the different sciences beyond the limited and lonely abstract world portrayed by their randomly assigned school teachers. This is a book that I would recommend to teens and perhaps freshmen, to help in understanding, and hopefully, in falling in love with the world of Mathematics. A world that can be so abstract and complex that it can be off putting for new entrants to withhold the confusion and agony that we all go when we begin our journey within during our school years.
Steven, the Author, does wonders in simplifying the labyrinth of mathematics into simple baby steps. His approach, a mix of story telling and puzzle finding narrative gives the reader a light hearted view of mathematics. He begins with the concept of numbers, an important start for newcomers that is a huge step into the world of abstraction. His illustration, through a sesame street episode, on how the world would look like if we did not have numbers. It was not only memorable, but also a great way to convince youngsters of it necessity, which is pretty much the overall approach of the book; we are learning maths, not because its abstractions will be useful at a latter stage in life, but because our life makes more sense through those abstractions.
I went through a couple of the pages in the book with my father, a professor in Mathematics, to find out that he was equality delighted in many of the examples provided, the writing style, and the specific path chosen to narrate the complex concepts. Some of my favourite passage from the book are:
- “In mathematics we are free to pursue the questions we ask, and how we pursue them, but not the answers.”
- “Calculus has to do with Solving for x, and Algebra detecting formulas which contain many variables.” To this effect, Calculus is the mathematic of change, while Algebra is that of relationships.
- “Wrong answers are educational, as long as you realise that they are wrong”.
Steven, the Author, does wonders in simplifying the labyrinth of mathematics into simple baby steps. His approach, a mix of story telling and puzzle finding narrative gives the reader a light hearted view of mathematics. He begins with the concept of numbers, an important start for newcomers that is a huge step into the world of abstraction. His illustration, through a sesame street episode, on how the world would look like if we did not have numbers. It was not only memorable, but also a great way to convince youngsters of it necessity, which is pretty much the overall approach of the book; we are learning maths, not because its abstractions will be useful at a latter stage in life, but because our life makes more sense through those abstractions.
I went through a couple of the pages in the book with my father, a professor in Mathematics, to find out that he was equality delighted in many of the examples provided, the writing style, and the specific path chosen to narrate the complex concepts. Some of my favourite passage from the book are:
- “In mathematics we are free to pursue the questions we ask, and how we pursue them, but not the answers.”
- “Calculus has to do with Solving for x, and Algebra detecting formulas which contain many variables.” To this effect, Calculus is the mathematic of change, while Algebra is that of relationships.
- “Wrong answers are educational, as long as you realise that they are wrong”.
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Nerdy, but cute. Great refresher for adults to remember why some of what we learned in school was so important.
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Very enjoyable book on math that I think would be most appreciated by people who love the concepts of advanced math, but don't have the time or discipline to really learn it. Strogatz does a great job in building from the very basic principles of counting to some more recent and complex, but relatively easy to understand, areas of number theory.
My only regret is that I wish I had read The Joy of x before reading How Not to Be Wrong, as this book covers similar ground, but at a more superficial level.
My only regret is that I wish I had read The Joy of x before reading How Not to Be Wrong, as this book covers similar ground, but at a more superficial level.
adventurous
challenging
informative
medium-paced
Read about halfway before i had to return it. Good for making me fall asleep?
I used to enjoy math during my school years, but over time, I lost interest. Despite this, I've always desired to understand it more deeply. When I discovered this book, I immediately borrowed it from my library.
The author, Steven Strogatz, is a math scholar who wrote this book for people looking to reignite their passion for math. The content is divided into six simple parts: numbers, relations between numbers, geometry, calculus, statistics, and other fascinating math concepts.
Despite being a seasoned math scholar, Strogatz has a knack for explaining complex concepts in simple, relatable terms, often using humorous examples. The book is structured into bite-sized chapters, making it easy to read and digest.
This book presents a fresh perspective on various mathematical concepts, making them memorable. Topics like the relationship between odd and even numbers, triangles, circles, and the Pythagorean theorem have taken on new meaning for me. The author even demystifies the basics of calculus and its real-world applications.
Whether you love math or not, this book will rekindle your appreciation for it.
The author, Steven Strogatz, is a math scholar who wrote this book for people looking to reignite their passion for math. The content is divided into six simple parts: numbers, relations between numbers, geometry, calculus, statistics, and other fascinating math concepts.
Despite being a seasoned math scholar, Strogatz has a knack for explaining complex concepts in simple, relatable terms, often using humorous examples. The book is structured into bite-sized chapters, making it easy to read and digest.
This book presents a fresh perspective on various mathematical concepts, making them memorable. Topics like the relationship between odd and even numbers, triangles, circles, and the Pythagorean theorem have taken on new meaning for me. The author even demystifies the basics of calculus and its real-world applications.
Whether you love math or not, this book will rekindle your appreciation for it.