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huntersrl 's review for:
The Ten Equations that Rule the World: And How You Can Use Them Too
by David Sumpter
informative
medium-paced
Why TEN?
I wanted to like this book. Part of me did, since it was full of interesting math and its application. But it was one of the most infuriating, inane, pompous things I've ever read.
To be clear: this book is not about equations. It is the story of a secret organization of mathematicians that rule the world. This made-up group could have been a fun literary device to combine topics, but it became the central focus of the book. So, rather than learning about legitimately fascinating and impactful math, the reader is constantly bombarded by elitist, Euro-centric drivel.
In the world view of this book, only mathematicians matter, and only the ones who know these particular equations. Politicians, artists, businessmen, etc. are all lesser, serving only to be unknowingly manipulated by the intelligent elite (of which the author is one, of course). Like the Bene Gesserit separate people into humans and animals, Sumpter separates them into mathematicians who use these equations, and plebes who don't.
There is a good book in here. The math is cool, the applications are mind-blowing, and the author is genuinely skilled at simply communicating complex topics. Unfortunately, it was mired in self-aggrandizement, elitism, and a truly baffling, idiotic secret society called TEN.
P.S. if...then is not an equation, so calling it 10 equations is a bit of a cheat.
I wanted to like this book. Part of me did, since it was full of interesting math and its application. But it was one of the most infuriating, inane, pompous things I've ever read.
To be clear: this book is not about equations. It is the story of a secret organization of mathematicians that rule the world. This made-up group could have been a fun literary device to combine topics, but it became the central focus of the book. So, rather than learning about legitimately fascinating and impactful math, the reader is constantly bombarded by elitist, Euro-centric drivel.
In the world view of this book, only mathematicians matter, and only the ones who know these particular equations. Politicians, artists, businessmen, etc. are all lesser, serving only to be unknowingly manipulated by the intelligent elite (of which the author is one, of course). Like the Bene Gesserit separate people into humans and animals, Sumpter separates them into mathematicians who use these equations, and plebes who don't.
There is a good book in here. The math is cool, the applications are mind-blowing, and the author is genuinely skilled at simply communicating complex topics. Unfortunately, it was mired in self-aggrandizement, elitism, and a truly baffling, idiotic secret society called TEN.
P.S. if...then is not an equation, so calling it 10 equations is a bit of a cheat.