How Math Explains the World: A Guide to the Power of Numbers, from Car Repair to Modern Physics | 
 enlarge | Author: James D. Stein
Publisher: Collins
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $14.25
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Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 139330
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 288
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.1 x 1.2
ISBN: 0061241768
Dewey Decimal Number: 510
EAN: 9780061241765
Publication Date: May 1, 2008
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Product Description
In How Math Explains the World, mathematician Stein reveals how seemingly arcane mathematical investigations and discoveries have led to bigger, more world-shaking insights into the nature of our world. In the four main sections of the book, Stein tells the stories of the mathematical thinkers who discerned some of the most fundamental aspects of our universe. From their successes and failures, delusions, and even duels, the trajectories of their innovations—and their impact on society—are traced in this fascinating narrative. Quantum mechanics, space-time, chaos theory and the workings of complex systems, and the impossibility of a "perfect" democracy are all here. Stein's book is both mind-bending and practical, as he explains the best way for a salesman to plan a trip, examines why any thought you could have is imbedded in the number ? , and—perhaps most importantly—answers one of the modern world's toughest questions: why the garage can never get your car repaired on time. Friendly, entertaining, and fun, How Math Explains the World is the first book by one of California's most popular math teachers, a veteran of both "math for poets" and Princeton's Institute for Advanced Studies. And it's perfect for any reader wanting to know how math makes both science and the world tick.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 Math, for the fun of it August 21, 2008
P. Madden
Who would have thought a book about math could make you chuckle and be thought provoking at the same time? Even though I'm not a math person, I had no problems following along. I enjoyed the author's humor and would recommend this entertaining book to everyone.
I loved this book July 21, 2008
Darby Hewitt (TX)
Well, I reviewed this book once before, but my previous review disappeared.
This book was awesome. I just graduated with a degree in physics and minors in math and computer science, and this book was a great holistic review of my education. It even helped fill in some gaps with its coverage of the histories of math and science.
For me, this book was a page turner. Dr. Stein writes with authority and without pretentiousness. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in math and science.
 More of a mathematical history book with advanced examples July 20, 2008
S. Chan (Castro Valley, CA United States)
1 out of 7 found this review helpful
Read this if you already like math (which I do) and want to learn a brief history of math (which I don't), and how it explains some things.
Unfortunately, I mis-interpreted the title of the book as "How Math Explains the EVERYDAY World." I was expecting a book full of examples of how math is useful everyday and pops up in unexpected places. Given that the cover mentioned car repair, I thought it was going to be interesting. However, he uses real life analogies to explain the math, instead of the math to explain the real life.
On page 73, Stein says, "I'm not a mathematical historian," but this book is full of names and personal histories that didn't really help me understand the content. I am not really interested in a mathematician who is devasted after finding out someone else already thought up his idea. I don't think that is the purpose of this title.
He does explain how math is used in the world, but most of the time it is somewhat advanced math in theoretical areas. Two of the more interesting topics he addresses are scheduling issues and voting methods. Other topics were boring. (Dueling mathematicians fighting over cubic and quintic equations? Blech.)
Definitely a must-read for math educators! July 9, 2008
Sherry S. Spurgeon (Costa Mesa, California United States)
LOVED this book! The style and formatting of the book made it one that was not only easy to pick up but also easy to put down when necessary...the topic, although some may think, "MATH? You must be kidding!" was made not only enjoyable but educational in ways to enlighten not only the math 'nerd' but history and physics 'nerds' as well. Sure, some of the mathematics wasn't as easy to follow, if you have forgotten what you've learned umpteen years ago, but as Dr. Stein says, not all of it is stuff you need or use anyway. This is definitely a must-read for math educators as it will provide excellent background stories for what might be an otherwise ho-hum topic (quadratic formula? oh no!). Written as though you're sitting down together over a cocktail and discussing mathematics (as if!) this is a fine book that will make you see math from a whole new perspective.
I loved this book July 2, 2008
Darby Hewitt (TX)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As a recent physics graduate with minors in math and computer science, this book was like a brief review of the last four years of my life. For me, it was a page-turner! Stein writes with authority, sans pretentiousness. He takes you through the history of math and science in a very fun way. Easily five stars.
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