The Arithmetic of Life and Death [Paperback]

George Shaffner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2001

Whether you realize it or not, numbers are everywhere--and integral to almost every facet of your life . . . from your next raise in pay to the inevitable rise of inflation, your weekly family budget to your end of the national debt. And as George Shaffner amazingly reveals, there are discerning answers (and a great measure of comfort) in numbers. In The Arithmetic of Life, he applies the basic principles of mathematics--addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division--to some of the most profound and just plain puzzling questions of our time.

Illuminated with anecdotes, humor, and insight, each chapter explains a unique part of life that can be understood only through the magic of numbers. Whether it's an unconventional theory on why more things go wrong than right, a simple calculation of how much it will cost you to smoke for a lifetime, why crime (accumulatively) doesn't pay, or a glimpse into the probability of life after death, this enlightening and lucidly reasoned book will forever change the way you think about numbers--and the world around you.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"AN APPEALING MIX OF COMMON SENSE AND SOLID REASONING . . . Written in lively style, with sly wit . . . Shines light into several interesting corners of everyday life, often with surprising results--and the numbers don't lie."
--Kirkus Reviews

"Shaffner's writing is . . . clever and clear. . . . It's highly probable that many readers will learn from it."
--Publishers Weekly

From the Inside Flap

Whether you realize it or not, numbers are everywhere--and integral to almost every facet of your life . . . from your next raise in pay to the inevitable rise of inflation, your weekly family budget to your end of the national debt. And as George Shaffner amazingly reveals, there are discerning answers (and a great measure of comfort) in numbers. In The Arithmetic of Life, he applies the basic principles of mathematics--addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division--to some of the most profound and just plain puzzling questions of our time.

Illuminated with anecdotes, humor, and insight, each chapter explains a unique part of life that can be understood only through the magic of numbers. Whether it's an unconventional theory on why more things go wrong than right, a simple calculation of how much it will cost you to smoke for a lifetime, why crime (accumulatively) doesn't pay, or a glimpse into the probability of life after death, this enlightening and lucidly reasoned book will forever change the way you think about numbers--and the world around you.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; First Edition edition (May 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345426452
• ISBN-13: 978-0345426451
• Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 0.4 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,450,951 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Answers Questions At the Rim of Your Thinking., February 10, 2004

By 

J. Haley - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Arithmetic of Life and Death (Paperback)

This excellent book answers several questions that I have always wondered about - but never knew how to approach them. It also provideds support for issues I feel strongly about but did not understand why. It clarifies why some counter intuitive actions may be so effective. Finally it provides support to those of us working with young adults on how and why to take the proper long term actions. He hints at why rapidly finishing high school and college will provide much more income over the long run.

Math is really only a small building block in this book. No advanced math is required, just addition and averaging. The math is a tool - a simple effective one at that- and nothing more. The main focus is providing solutions to issues one feels strongly about but does not have a clue on how to attack them.

This book has also reminded me of a few ways I better improve myself. I stick to the speed limit and no longer tailgate!!!!!

I just wish Mr. Shaffner would write another book!!!!!

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting applications of math and statistics, August 20, 2001

By 

John M (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Arithmetic of Life and Death (Paperback)

While books on arithmetic certainly aren't for everyone, I found this one to be interesting, and at times fascinating. My favorite chapter, and one that I plan to use at my daughter's school is on how 8th graders can get a job that pays $45/hour. "What kind of job is that," I'm sure you ask... The answer, of course, is "Stay in School". Since high school graduates on average make significantly more than dropouts, you can assign that difference an hourly rate for the hours that remain till graduation day. Sometimes interesting, sometimes fascinating, sometimes a bit of a stretch, but for an engineer, math fan, statistician, etc., definitely worth the buy.