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benjaminvr's review against another edition
4.0
What an amazing adventure through the world of math.
eroston's review against another edition
I haven't read this yet but it's the greatest book title in the history of written language.
kaleidoscope_heart's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
aminowrimo's review against another edition
5.0
An interesting look at mathematics throughout the ages. Many of the examples are, as other reviewers have said, rather old hat, but as I didn't yet know about them, I didn't mind. The book as a whole has a very playful, colloquial air that was quite enjoyable.
chris_fiebelkorn's review against another edition
funny
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
eavilah's review against another edition
informative
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
5.0
Bellos’s book about numbers inspires a new type of love of numbers. History, fact and philosophy are all explored in this book all while keeping a light hearted tone. While it is a book about math it also interests the average person. A must-read.
mikaaa's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
4.25
I really enjoyed how fun he made learning about math by integrating the mathematicians' personal lives and how their theories manifested in their views and just overall math trivia. Was a great read and I would totally recommend it to anyone trying to get a more thorough understanding on math!
thirtytwobirds's review against another edition
3.0
While this book is mostly just a pop-math tour of inspirational "stuff" that never dives too deep, the author does manage to explain a few proofs (e.g. the diagonalisation argument) in a way that seems more accessible than I've heard before.
That could just be because I'm learning more myself, but I think it's more than that -- Bellos is actually a good *writer* for normal humans to read, which isn't usually something you find often when talking about mathematical proofs.
That could just be because I'm learning more myself, but I think it's more than that -- Bellos is actually a good *writer* for normal humans to read, which isn't usually something you find often when talking about mathematical proofs.
rlse's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic! Readable and entertaining non-fiction, looking at math through the lenses of history, anthropology, and some cognitive science along for the ride. Helped me revisit some of the more satisfying epiphanies of my own math education and opened my eyes to many new ones. And you definitely don't need to be a math nerd to appreciate this book.
2sylvan's review against another edition
5.0
The title of this book is an indication of the delight inside. It is an immersive and enjoyable read. I read it long ago but still it is like turning on a lightbulb when I think of it. I hope you enjoy reading it. I recommend it for homeschool curriculum.