777 Mathematical Conversation Starters shows that there are few degrees of separation between mathematics and topics that provoke interesting conversations. The topics presented in this unique book are accessible to mathematicians and non-mathematicians alike. They include thought-provoking conversation starters such as: the value of fame; why language matters; the anatomy of thought; how we know what we know; how the Pythagorean theorem (with very little physics) shows that Einstein was correct about time dilation and distance contraction; and how mathematics produces intuition-defying examples. The format is unique, too: Topics (conversation starters) are numbered, extensively cross-referenced, and divided into small digestible units. Published for the first time in 777 Mathematical Conversation Starters are original quotes from Joshua Lederberg, Ron Graham, Jay Leno, Martin Gardner, and many others.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
'Instructive, amusing, provocative, and insidiously addictive, 777 Mathematical Conversation Starters serves up ample fodder for feeding mathematics into classroom discussions or even cocktail-party chatter.' Ivars Peterson, Science News
Are you looking for a nice quote, poem, or cartoon to adorn your next speech, article or math exam? If so, 777 Mathematical Conversation Starters is a great place to start looking. Arthur Benjamin, Harvey Mudd College
'In view of the difficulties with the public perception of mathematics, books like this can only help make the subject more approachable and less scary, and this particular book will be especially helpful to anyone wishing to bring an additional splash of color to a mathematics lecture for a general audience.' David Acheson, Jesus College, Oxford
Are you looking for a nice quote, poem, or cartoon to adorn your next speech, article or math exam? If so, 777 Mathematical Conversation Starters is a great place to start looking. Arthur Benjamin, Harvey Mudd College
'In view of the difficulties with the public perception of mathematics, books like this can only help make the subject more approachable and less scary, and this particular book will be especially helpful to anyone wishing to bring an additional splash of color to a mathematics lecture for a general audience.' David Acheson, Jesus College, Oxford
Book Description
Accessible to mathematicians and non-mathematicians, 777 Mathematical Conversation Starters shows there exist few degrees of separation between mathematics and topics that provoke interesting conversations. The topics presented include thought-provoking conversation starters. The format is unique, too: Topics (conversation starters) are numbered, extensively cross-referenced, and divided into small digestible units.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Come for the information, stay for the fun!,
By A Customer
This review is from: 777 Mathematical Conversation Starters (Spectrum) (Paperback)
Bought this book for the quotations and facts, and it does have these in abundance (with an excellent index and very funny illustrations). It's also surprisingly accessible and fun to read, especially for those who think they cannot understand or appreciate math. I would recommend this for anyone, but it would be an especially appreciated gift for writers, teachers, college students, consultants, in fact anyone who has to make presentations or interesting conversation. Also, considering the amount of research that went into this, and the volume of material (yes, there are 777 items, of varying length and complexity) it's quite a good value!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My father loves this book too,
By
This review is from: 777 Mathematical Conversation Starters (Spectrum) (Paperback)
Being a mathematician, I love this book. But my father is
very far from being a mathematician, and he loves this book too. "777 Coversation Starters" by John de Pillis is a definite winner!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
great gift,
By A Customer
This review is from: 777 Mathematical Conversation Starters (Spectrum) (Paperback)
A friend gave this to me. I am definitely not a math type, but itis a great vacation companion. You can read it in bits and pieces or from front to back in order of appearance. I, in turn, picked up three copies to give out: a birthday gift, wedding (Yes! honey mooners need something to talk about!), one for a friend going on a cruise! It really is the perfect gift!
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Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
Civility (which is required in good conversation) implies that all parties listen and that all parties are allowed to speak. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
transcendental numbers, see item, time dilation, incompleteness theorem Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Anvil Willie, New York, Axiom of Choice, John de Pillis, Martin Gardner, Table Seven, University of California, Special Relativity, Big Bang, Humpty Dumpty, Los Angeles Times, Sherlock Holmes, Bertrand Russell, Monty Hall, Alan Sokal, The World of Mathematics, Thomas Kuhn, Tom Lehrer, Conversation Starters, David Hilbert, North Whitehead, Karl Popper, Ron Graham, Abraham Lincoln, Arthur Conan Doyle New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Civility (which is required in good conversation) implies that all parties listen and that all parties are allowed to speak. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
transcendental numbers, see item, time dilation, incompleteness theorem Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Anvil Willie, New York, Axiom of Choice, John de Pillis, Martin Gardner, Table Seven, University of California, Special Relativity, Big Bang, Humpty Dumpty, Los Angeles Times, Sherlock Holmes, Bertrand Russell, Monty Hall, Alan Sokal, The World of Mathematics, Thomas Kuhn, Tom Lehrer, Conversation Starters, David Hilbert, North Whitehead, Karl Popper, Ron Graham, Abraham Lincoln, Arthur Conan Doyle New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 100
books:
See all 100 books this book cites
- The World of Mathematics by James R. Newman on 10 pages
- The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas S. Kuhn on 5 pages
- Adam and Eve (Family Time Bible Stories) by Mary Martin on page 22, page 50, and page 108
- The Pirates of Penzance: Chorus Parts by Arthur Sullivan on page 119, page 120, and page 214
- Charles Darwin (Grandes biografias series) by Ana Maria Gonzalez Martin on page 103, page 108, and page 132
See all 100 books this book cites
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