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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
interesting read and a good book, but it went into more details about other subjects (encryption during wwii and periodical cicadas, anyone?) than i was expecting, in order to connect to background topics
…i probably only actually read about half of it cause a decent amount was already covered in my history of math class i took this semester, so i skimmed those parts
…i probably only actually read about half of it cause a decent amount was already covered in my history of math class i took this semester, so i skimmed those parts
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
I am blown away by this book. I've read so many nonfiction math and physics books that they were starting to repeat themselves. So, when I picked this one up I thought, "Well, it's probably more of the same, but it's popular enough I should really add it to my repertoire." Way wrong thought. Not only does this book contain even more charming mathematical anecdotes than I'd ever read before, but it also contains better written versions of the stories I'd heard of. For example, I knew about Sophie Germain, but I didn't know she'd saved Gauss' life. I knew all about the burning of Alexandria, but I didn't know it was Mark Antony who attempted to rebuild the great library. I knew Galois died young in a duel, but I never knew the full story.
I read [b:The Code Book|17994|The Code Book The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography|Simon Singh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403181687s/17994.jpg|1031975] in high school, and I remember it being good, but in a recreational way. It piqued my interest but I didn't really shelf it with "high literature" like I did with [b:Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid|24113|Gödel, Escher, Bach An Eternal Golden Braid|Douglas R. Hofstadter|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1428732588s/24113.jpg|850076] or [b:Music of the Spheres: The Material Universe From Atom to Quaser, Simply Explained|393653|Music of the Spheres The Material Universe From Atom to Quaser, Simply Explained (Volume II The Microcosm Matter, Atoms, Waves, Radiation, Relativity)|Guy Murchie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1387716643s/393653.jpg|383216]. It was enough for me, a young geeky teenager, to have a little fun playing with codes, then move on to another book. I am very happy that I returned to Singh, and I can confidently say this is the better of the two I've read. Mathematicians sure are a romantic lot.
I read [b:The Code Book|17994|The Code Book The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography|Simon Singh|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403181687s/17994.jpg|1031975] in high school, and I remember it being good, but in a recreational way. It piqued my interest but I didn't really shelf it with "high literature" like I did with [b:Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid|24113|Gödel, Escher, Bach An Eternal Golden Braid|Douglas R. Hofstadter|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1428732588s/24113.jpg|850076] or [b:Music of the Spheres: The Material Universe From Atom to Quaser, Simply Explained|393653|Music of the Spheres The Material Universe From Atom to Quaser, Simply Explained (Volume II The Microcosm Matter, Atoms, Waves, Radiation, Relativity)|Guy Murchie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1387716643s/393653.jpg|383216]. It was enough for me, a young geeky teenager, to have a little fun playing with codes, then move on to another book. I am very happy that I returned to Singh, and I can confidently say this is the better of the two I've read. Mathematicians sure are a romantic lot.
Apart from textbooks in school, this is the first book on mathematics that I've read. Singh makes the storytell of finding the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem gripping and exciting.
Very exciting for a book about maths. I'm glad that the history aspects are leaned on heavily to drive the narrative forward and add so much fascinating context. I feel slightly sad that like most others, I am completely ignorant to the beautiful and seemingly perfect language of mathematics.
medium-paced
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
sad
Great book! Not very math heavy whatsoever
So good. I've never been disappointed with a Simon Singh book, and this one is no exception. He knows just how to tell a scientific story without grossly simplifing it, and he deftly builds your interest in the characters and their stories. He does this while going deeper than other authors, and uncovering details that I'd never previously heard of.
If you don't already know how the story ends, do yourself a favor and don't read the intro first.
If you don't already know how the story ends, do yourself a favor and don't read the intro first.
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced