From uncanny movie dinosaurs to the loopy physics of the triple axel, Keith Devlin's vibrantly illustrated book illuminates the mathematics inherent in every human endeavor. "A beautiful book . . . the aim is not to teach but to entertain, and it succeeds. The view that mathematics is dull is replaced by an image of how math can be both interesting and useful, if not all-powerful."—New Scientist.
"A colorful and exciting introduction to the ways in which mathematics can help [us] to under-stand phenomena. [Devlin] presents fascinating real-world problems posed by real people and shows how mathematics is used to solve them."—Choice.
"Not in many, many years have I seen a book nearly as instructive and enlightening about the beauty of mathematics. Life by the Numbers is superb."—Amir Aczel, author of Fermat's Last Theorem.
"This wondrous book reveals how, on the brink of the millennium, wizards are using math to bring movie dinosaurs to life, to improve tennis stars' serves, to win sailboat races, and to probe the eeriest corners of the cosmos. A pleasurable read for adult and young alike."—Keay Davidson, coauthor of Wrinkles in Time.
"A fascinating account of many of the ways in which mathematical ideas find application in the world around us. Keith Devlin is to be congratulated for bringing these ideas so accessibly to the public."—Sir Roger Penrose, author of The Emperor's New Mind.
Table of Contents:
The Invisible Universe. Seeing is Believing.
Patterns of Nature.
The Numbers Game.
The Shape of the World.
Chances of a Lifetime.
A New Age.
It's an M World.
Further Reading.
Credits.
Index.
About the Author :
KEITH DEVLIN is a mathematician and the dean of the School of Science of St. Mary's College, as well as a senior researcher at Stanford University's Center for the Study of Language and Information. He is the author of Mathematics: The New Golden Age; Mathematics: The Science of Patterns; and Goodbye, Descartes (Wiley).
Review :
Not in many, many years have I seen a book nearly as instructive, enlightening, and sheer fun about the beauty of mathematics. Life by the Numbers is truly superb—Amir Aczel, author of Fermat's Last Theorem
"A beautiful book. . . . The aim is not to teach but to entertain, and it succeeds. The view that mathematics is dull is replaced by an image of how math can be both interesting and useful, if not all-powerful." —New Scientist
"Life by the Numbers provides a fascinating and readable account of many of the ways in which mathematical ideas find application in the world around us. Keith Devlin is to be congratulated for bringing these ideas so accessibly to the public at large."—Sir Roger Penrose, author of The Emperor's New Mind
"Keith Devlin's LIFE BY THE NUMBERS shows you how to look at math in a wider perspective, observing how it affects everything you do in life. This book deliberately leaves out equations and formulae so you can concentrate on what math is really for."—The Associated Press, nationally syndicated wire service
Let's cut to the quick. Read this book. Stein has given us a delightful, refreshing new look at old mathematics, and introduces us to the new in a readable and entertaining way—New Scientist
"The diverse themes hold the reader throughout. . . . A rich and charming book."—Choice
"Strength in Numbers should find a home in every school library, and mathematics teachers will want to recommend chapters of this book to their students."—Mathematics Teacher
