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Title: World of Mathematics by Philip Morrison, Phylis S. Morrison, James R. Newman ISBN: 1-55615-149-7 Publisher: Microsoft Press Pub. Date: November, 1988 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $50.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.86 (7 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Great Authors, Great Articles, Great Fun
Comment: I pencil in the date that I finish reading each article in James R. Newman's four volume, "The World of Mathematics" After a good many years, I now find that I am more than halfway through Newman's remarkable collection that spans 2500 pages.
Newman described his work as "a small library of the literature of mathematics form A'hmose the Scribe to Albert Einstein, presented with commentaries and notes". The topics have been chosen with care. Newman preceded each article with a thoughtful commentary.
The individual articles are not abridgements, but are reprinted in their entirety. Some articles are short, some quite long, some are easy reading, some are difficult, but few are overwhelming.
I have not systematically read section by section. I find that I skip around. Often, after Newman introduces me to some mathematical topic, I find myself sidetracked, exploring other books and authors. But eventually I return to Newman, select another article, and begin the cycle again.
The Newman collection was published in 1956 as a boxed set that occasionally shows up in used bookstores. More recently, the four volumes have become available in soft cover (a Dover reprint) and can be purchased individually.
What makes Newman collection so remarkable? The answer is great original papers, great authors, and wide ranging topics.
Imagine reading Descartes on Cartesian coordinates, Whitehead on mathematical logic, Weyl on symmetry, Dedekind on irrational numbers, Russell on number theory, Heisenberg on the uncertainty principle, Turing on computer intelligence, Boole on set theory, and Eddington on group theory.
I enjoy the biographical and historical articles scattered throughout the four volumes. I especially liked Bell's article "Invariant Twins, Cayley and Sylvester", The Great Mathematicians" by Turnball, and G. H. Hardy's "A Mathematician's Apology".
Mathematicians try to define just what is mathematical thought and how a mathematician creates mathematics. Clifford writes about "The Exactness of Mathematical Laws", Von Neumann on "The Mathematician", Weyl on "Mathematical Way of Thinking", Poincare on "Mathematical Creation", Newman on "Godel's Proof", and Russell and Whitehead separately offer their thoughts.
This is the "World" of mathematics. Newman's assemblage also includes a fascinating, eclectic mix of articles that I have not encountered elsewhere like "How to Hunt a Submarine", "Durer as a Mathematician", "A Mathematical Approach to Ethics", "Geometry in the South Pacific", and "The Vice of Gambling and the Virtue of Insurance".
I have had great fun wandering through this four volume set from section to section, article to article. I assume that someday I will finally read the last article. I expect that I will simply begin again. It would be hard to say good-bye to Newman's collection.
Rating: 5
Summary: Learn From the Masters!
Comment: Carl Friedrich Gauss, a famous 18th century mathematician said "Learn from the Masters".
The World of mathematics gives us all this opportunity.
This monumental collection of articles from the Masters throws light on all aspects and areas of Mathematics and mathematical sciences.
Do you want to hear about Boolean algebra from Boole himself?
Do you Want to hear about Turing machines from Turing himself?
From Newton to Einstien, all the masters speak to you.
The collection is well organized into different areas of mathematics. Abstract algebra to Logic to Geometry and Physics
Thru a series of wonderful articles from the masters of the field spanning several hundred years, one can understand the Length and breadth and depth of the wonderful world of Mathematics.
You will slowley understand how mathematics is not just about numbers and counting and measurement. Will slowley begin to understand the unbelievable depth of abstractions it aims to capture. you will begin learning the structure and nature of mathematics..its approaches to modeling the intutive world and then..extend it! In a way you will learn what the mind is capable of and is ultimately trying to acheive!
A personal note: I started reading it during my undergraduate and after more than 10 years, still go back to it for more light. Thanks to Prof. Chandrasekar for recommending this to me.
Rating: 5
Summary: Superb reference text for the general reader..
Comment: This four volume set is a gem. I bought this treasure back in 1973 but I still go back to it at least twice a week. The writing is uneven because of the different authors who have contributed articles. However, the substance of the book is top notch. Starting with the number system all the way to the differential calculus and parts of game theory, the book is a treasury of mathematical delights. Just pick a chapter, and you are sure to be sucked in. Another point I wish to make is the design and layout of the books. There are no slick, extra large, shiny page designs here. Just plain 6 by 8 size pages with appropriate black and white diagrams. This is when books used to be more like friends, often in one's company, and much perused. It is truly a shame that this series is out of print. If you happen to find it somewhere introduce yourself!!
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Title: Concepts of Modern Mathematics by Ian Stewart ISBN: 0486284247 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 01 February, 1995 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: What Is Mathematics?: An Elementary Approach to Ideas and Methods by Richard Courant, Herbert Robbins, Ian Stewart ISBN: 0195105192 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pub. Date: May, 1996 List Price(USD): $21.50 |
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Title: Mathematics by A. D. Aleksandrov, A. N. Kolmogorov, M. A. LavrentÂev ISBN: 0486409163 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 24 September, 1999 List Price(USD): $36.95 |
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Title: Linear Algebra by Georgi E. Shilov ISBN: 048663518X Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 01 June, 1977 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: Mathematics for the Nonmathematician by Morris Kline ISBN: 0486248232 Publisher: Dover Pubns Pub. Date: 01 February, 1985 List Price(USD): $14.95 |
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