Description
David Acheson's extraordinary little book makes mathematics accessible to everyone. From very simple beginnings he takes us on a thrilling journey to some deep mathematical ideas. On the way, via Kepler and Newton, he explains what calculus really means, gives a brief history of pi, and even takes us to chaos theory and imaginary numbers. Every short chapter is carefully crafted to ensure that no one will get lost on the journey. Packed with puzzles and illustrated by world famous cartoonists, this is one of the most readable and imaginative books on mathematics ever written.
About the Author
David Acheson is Emeritus Fellow in Mathematics at Jesus College, Oxford. He was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2004 for his 'outstanding contributions to teaching and learning', and was President of the Mathematical Association for 2010-11. He gives many popular maths lectures to the general public, of all ages, and these often end with a short demonstration of maths applied to the electric guitar. He is also author of From Calculus to Chaos (OUP 1997) and Elementary Fluid Dynamics (OUP 1990).
Reviews
Thought provoking. * THES *
Popular maths is not easy to do, but David Acheson has really achieved it with this pocket-sized gem of a book. * Brian Clegg, Popular Science *
Review from previous edition 1089 and All That is an instant classic... an inspiring little masterpiece. * Mathematical Association of America *
Possibly the nicest maths book ever written. * Kjartan Poskitt, author of Murderous Maths *
Every so often an author presents scientific ideas in a new way... Starting from such minimalist material, David Acheson works his way up to chaos and catastrophe theory. Not a page passes without at least one intriguing insight... Anyone who is baffled by mathematics should buy it. And all mathematicians should buy at least a dozen copies to hand out to people they meet at parties. My enthusiasm for it knows no bounds. * Ian Stewart, New Scientist *
The tone of this little gem of a book is set by the allusion in its title to the W.C. Sellar and R.J. Yeatman classic 1066 and All That, and the outrageous Steve Bell cartoon on its cover ... The book is such an easy and entertaining read (my non-mathematical family members agree) ... There are few mathematicians who succeed in writing popular accounts of their craft without being superficial or condescending. With this book David Acheson has joined the best of them. * Times Higher Education Supplement *
My ten-year-old daughter read the book with my guidance and loved it. Even mathematicians will find fresh perspectives on old themes in this playful and inventive book. * John Mighton in The Mathematical Intelligencer *
The reader is left with a sense of the magic of mathematics ... An earlier reviewer has advised everyone to 'go out and buy a dozen copies', and I heartily agree, and hope that our embattled schoolteachers (and university lecturers!) take up the cry. * UK Nonlinear News *
On the surface this book is another of those 'let's look at the funny things about numbers' books. But no, this one was far more than that. It treated subjects briefly but in depth and breadth, linked them together, didn't make assumptions... Truly inspiring, and a great read over a weekend. * Mathematics Teaching *
Every teenage mathematician should have a copy. * Symmetry Plus Magazine *
An ideal present for friends and relatives who are not mathematicians. * London Mathematical Society Newsletter *
Even though you have doubtless read everything by Keith Devlin, Simon Singh, Martin Gardner...and you-name-it, this wonderful work is yet another 'must' for your bookshelf! * European Mathematical Society Newsletter *
An ingenious, pleasure-filled and humorous journey into mathematics. * Upsala Nya Tidning *
The jacket blurb does not exaggerate.....at least, not by much. * Canadian Mathematical Society *
Wow! * Mathematics Teacher *
An amusing and entertaining roller-coaster ride into the world of mathematics. * American Mathematical Society *
Fasten your seatbelts! * Mathematics in School *
Book Information
ISBN 9780199590025
Author David Acheson
Format Paperback
Page Count 184
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 200g
Dimensions(mm) 173mm * 122mm * 10mm
About the Author
David Acheson is Emeritus Fellow in Mathematics at Jesus College, Oxford. He was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship in 2004 for his 'outstanding contributions to teaching and learning', and was President of the Mathematical Association for 2010-11. He gives many popular maths lectures to the general public, of all ages, and these often end with a short demonstration of maths applied to the electric guitar. He is also author of From Calculus to Chaos (OUP 1997) and Elementary Fluid Dynamics (OUP 1990).
Reviews
Thought provoking. * THES *
Popular maths is not easy to do, but David Acheson has really achieved it with this pocket-sized gem of a book. * Brian Clegg, Popular Science *
Review from previous edition 1089 and All That is an instant classic... an inspiring little masterpiece. * Mathematical Association of America *
Possibly the nicest maths book ever written. * Kjartan Poskitt, author of Murderous Maths *
Every so often an author presents scientific ideas in a new way... Starting from such minimalist material, David Acheson works his way up to chaos and catastrophe theory. Not a page passes without at least one intriguing insight... Anyone who is baffled by mathematics should buy it. And all mathematicians should buy at least a dozen copies to hand out to people they meet at parties. My enthusiasm for it knows no bounds. * Ian Stewart, New Scientist *
The tone of this little gem of a book is set by the allusion in its title to the W.C. Sellar and R.J. Yeatman classic 1066 and All That, and the outrageous Steve Bell cartoon on its cover ... The book is such an easy and entertaining read (my non-mathematical family members agree) ... There are few mathematicians who succeed in writing popular accounts of their craft without being superficial or condescending. With this book David Acheson has joined the best of them. * Times Higher Education Supplement *
My ten-year-old daughter read the book with my guidance and loved it. Even mathematicians will find fresh perspectives on old themes in this playful and inventive book. * John Mighton in The Mathematical Intelligencer *
The reader is left with a sense of the magic of mathematics ... An earlier reviewer has advised everyone to 'go out and buy a dozen copies', and I heartily agree, and hope that our embattled schoolteachers (and university lecturers!) take up the cry. * UK Nonlinear News *
On the surface this book is another of those 'let's look at the funny things about numbers' books. But no, this one was far more than that. It treated subjects briefly but in depth and breadth, linked them together, didn't make assumptions... Truly inspiring, and a great read over a weekend. * Mathematics Teaching *
Every teenage mathematician should have a copy. * Symmetry Plus Magazine *
An ideal present for friends and relatives who are not mathematicians. * London Mathematical Society Newsletter *
Even though you have doubtless read everything by Keith Devlin, Simon Singh, Martin Gardner...and you-name-it, this wonderful work is yet another 'must' for your bookshelf! * European Mathematical Society Newsletter *
An ingenious, pleasure-filled and humorous journey into mathematics. * Upsala Nya Tidning *
The jacket blurb does not exaggerate.....at least, not by much. * Canadian Mathematical Society *
Wow! * Mathematics Teacher *
An amusing and entertaining roller-coaster ride into the world of mathematics. * American Mathematical Society *
Fasten your seatbelts! * Mathematics in School *
Book Information
ISBN 9780199590025
Author David Acheson
Format Paperback
Page Count 184
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 200g
Dimensions(mm) 173mm * 122mm * 10mm
