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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
"Shape" is the successor of Ellenbergs' popular work "How Not to Be Wrong". Whereas the earlier book showed how to use mathematical thinking in everyday life (and win the lottery), this book aims to show that geometry is absolutely everywhere. I am no mathematician, but I have the feeling that Ellenberg considers absolutely everything geometry. There is a chapter on Euclid, about Euclid, the topology of straws and pants, Gerrymandering but also about random walks, graphs game theory, the uncertainty principle, etc. Nothing much connects the chapters, so the whole style felt meandering.
Ellenberg is a charismatic writer with a talent for explaining complicated math to the layperson. I felt that after the success of this previous book, this has hardly been edited. I have read several interviews with the author that geometry is his least favourite branch of mathematics. It shows. Most chapters feel like a collection of brainstormed, vaguely connected ideas weaved into a text on an evening. For example, consider one chapter. It jumps from: a series of numbers, an epidemiological model, Fibonacci numbers, rational numbers, stocks, eigenvalues, page rank, eigensequences and the uncertainty principle. Compare with Strogatz' "Infinite Powers", which guides the reader over the wonders of calculus or Parker's "Things to Make in the Fourth Dimension", in which each chapter is a delightful self-contained story about a math topic. These are more enjoyable math books for laypersons, at least in my opinion.
Ellenberg is a charismatic writer with a talent for explaining complicated math to the layperson. I felt that after the success of this previous book, this has hardly been edited. I have read several interviews with the author that geometry is his least favourite branch of mathematics. It shows. Most chapters feel like a collection of brainstormed, vaguely connected ideas weaved into a text on an evening. For example, consider one chapter. It jumps from: a series of numbers, an epidemiological model, Fibonacci numbers, rational numbers, stocks, eigenvalues, page rank, eigensequences and the uncertainty principle. Compare with Strogatz' "Infinite Powers", which guides the reader over the wonders of calculus or Parker's "Things to Make in the Fourth Dimension", in which each chapter is a delightful self-contained story about a math topic. These are more enjoyable math books for laypersons, at least in my opinion.
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
informative
slow-paced
challenging
funny
informative
slow-paced
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
Insanely entertaining despite talking about complex mathematical topics.
Shape - Jordan Ellenberg (2021)
2021 read #83
Grade: A
Synoposis: Jordan Ellenberg is a math professor at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. In his book, Shape, he explores how geometry can be used to solve a variety of real-world problems, from board games to gerrymandering. He describes the math behind a lot of the virus spread data we've been seeing on the news since 2020. This book is written not just for professional mathematicians, but for everyone who desires to learn why geometry is important.
Thoughts: This was a birthday gift from my boyfriend so I was so excited to read this! I am getting my PhD in Math so this book was right up my alley. I've found with a lot of similar books, the material is either too basic for my level and I learn nothing, or it's too advanced and I feel like I'm reading for work instead of pleasure. Ellenberg has found a happy medium. What you won't do while reading Shape is crunch numbers in formulas, instead you'll learn the concepts and applications of geometry. If you read a lot of nonfiction and want to learn a little math, then I highly recommend this book!
2021 read #83
Grade: A
Synoposis: Jordan Ellenberg is a math professor at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. In his book, Shape, he explores how geometry can be used to solve a variety of real-world problems, from board games to gerrymandering. He describes the math behind a lot of the virus spread data we've been seeing on the news since 2020. This book is written not just for professional mathematicians, but for everyone who desires to learn why geometry is important.
Thoughts: This was a birthday gift from my boyfriend so I was so excited to read this! I am getting my PhD in Math so this book was right up my alley. I've found with a lot of similar books, the material is either too basic for my level and I learn nothing, or it's too advanced and I feel like I'm reading for work instead of pleasure. Ellenberg has found a happy medium. What you won't do while reading Shape is crunch numbers in formulas, instead you'll learn the concepts and applications of geometry. If you read a lot of nonfiction and want to learn a little math, then I highly recommend this book!
challenging
funny
informative
medium-paced
A lot of this (admittedly) went over my head, but I think the book as a whole was reader-friendly, humorous, and tied in geometry to so many aspects of life. I think I will be seeing shapes all over now.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
I was already struggling to get to the point talking about AI/ML because it could be helpful for my career change, but trying to read I found myself getting lost in the details because of his style, and when I switched to listening to the audiobook at the same time to see if it would help, his manner of speaking os so unnatural it was even more distracting. Everything is a surprise, high pitch, high tone, with rising tones at the end of every sentence like a Kardashian.