Ian Stewart. Nature’s Numbers (1995) A survey of how mathematics not only informs but enables our understanding of the world. One may read this book as an extended gloss on Wigner’s essay, “On the unreasonable success of mathematics...” Stewart aims at the educated lay person, but does not assume technical mathematical skill or knowledge. Occasionally, that results in rather less detail than one would wish. The book could also do with more illustrations, especially since Stewart emphasises that modern mathematics concerns itself more with shape than with number. Not his best work, but still pretty good. **½ (2004)
Please comment. Comments are moderated, so it may take a day or two for your comment to appear. Or send a mail to wolfmac@sympatico.ca If you quote, please also link to this blog. If you like this blog, please follow it. Highest review rating is four stars ****
-
John Cunningham. The Tin Star (Collier’s, December 4, 1947) The short story adapted for High Noon . As often happens, the movie retains v... -
Noel Coward The Complete Short Stories (1985) Coward was a very clever writer. All of these stories are worth reading, but few stick ... -
Patrick Hamilton. The Charmer (1953) Originally titled Mr Simpson and Mr Gorse , retitled and reprinted in 1989 to take advantage of t...
No comments:
Post a Comment