Beyond Numeracy

by John Allen Paulos

Overview

From the author of the national bestseller Innumeracy, a delightful exploration and explanation of mathematical concepts from algebra to zero in easily accessible alphabetical entries. "Paulos . . . does for mathematics what The Joy of Sex did for the boudoir. . . ."--Washington Post Book World. First time in paperback.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780307833334
Publisher:	Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/29/2013
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	5 MB

About the Author

John Allen Paulos is an acclaimed author, popular public speaker, and former monthly columnist for ABCNews.com, the Scientific American, and the Guardian (London). A professor of math at Temple University in Philadelphia, he earned his PhD in the subject from the University of Wisconsin. His books include A Numerate Life, the New York Timess–bestselling Innumeracy, and A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper. In 2003 he received the American Association for the Advancement of Science award for promoting public understanding of science, and in 2013 the Mathematics Communication Award from the Joint Policy Board for Mathematics.

Editorial Reviews

These conversational, refreshing essays--organized in dictionary format from ``algebra'' to ``zeno''--demonstrate math's relevancy to everyday life; this guide was a BOMC and QPB alternate. Illustrated. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

In his best-selling Innumeracy (Hill & Wang: Farrar, 1989; Vintage: Random, 1990. pap.) Paulos took up the challenge of explaining why the general lack of mathematical literacy in the American population should be at least as great a concern as the lack of scientific and general cultural literacy. In this new collection of short essays on mathematical topics, he aims to remedy part of the problem by exposing general readers to some areas of modern mathematics. He discusses such concepts as algebra, probability theory, and fractals in an easy-to-read yet sophisticated style. While this book lacks the unifying thread and, thus, the importance of Paulos's earlier work, it is still worth reading. Recommended for subject collections. Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 12/90; BOMC and Quality Paperback alternates.-- Harold D. Shane, Baruch Coll., CUNY

Library Journal

YA-- This well-written and easy-to-follow book gently guides readers through many interesting mathematical topics. Each subject has its own short chapter, which can be found easily in the table of contents. Binary numbers and codes, chaos, mathematical folklore, limits, pi, Russel's Paradox, and voting systems are some of the topics covered. No math teacher should be without this book, and students should not deny themselves the opportunity to view the study of numbers from this delightful and informative piece of literature. --Daniel D. Settlemire, R. E. Lee High School, Fairfax County, VA

School Library Journal