The Crest of the Peacock: Non-European Roots of Mathematics (Penguin Mathematics) [Paperback]

George Gheverghese Joseph (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0140125299 | ISBN-13: 978-0140125290 | Publication Date: October 6, 1992

Most westerners are unaware of the heritage of non-Western mathematics. This book suggests that humans everywhere have been capable of advanced and innovative mathematical thinking. The Greeks were influenced by the Egyptians and Babylonians; the Arabs made a major creative contribution; and the great civilizations of India and China have a range of successes to their credit. Beginning with the Ishango Bone of central Africa and the Inca quipu of South America, the book continues to the dawn of modern mathematics, questioning familiar assumptions and enlarging the meaning of mathematics.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

When we hear that mathematics is both the most noble endeavor of our species and that it was born in Europe, we naturally tend to be suspicious. Few writers could be as well-qualified to write about ancient math across the world as George Gheverghese Joseph, whose The Crest of the Peacock: Non-European Roots of Mathematics is a bright example of clear exposition and argument. Though the topic might intimidate those averse to mathematics, history, non-Western cultures, or some combination thereof, the book is essential for any reader who seeks a clearer understanding of any one of those. Joseph doesn't make things easy for nonmathematicians or nonhistorians, but the pleasure of meeting his challenge is robust. He explains ancient African, American, and Asian methods of counting and manipulating numbers with ease, paying particular attention to the historical development of and interrelationships between cultures. When discussing systems of mathematics as complex as those taught in ancient India and China, Joseph includes sample problems and discussions to help the interested student see numbers as past learners did. The revised edition includes a lengthy section, titled "Reflections," that updates and expands much of the material. Few readers will be able to match Joseph's grasp of both history and mathematics, but all will find The Crest of the Peacock as delightful and elegant as its subjects. --Rob Lightner --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

If only this book had been available when I was a student!. . . This book will carry you to a deeper place: an appreciation of the many non-European roots of mathematics. -- Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (October 6, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140125299
• ISBN-13: 978-0140125290
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #826,376 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, June 30, 2003

By 

"aboguy" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Crest of the Peacock (Paperback)

'Crest of the Peacock' would be an excellent text for a history of mathematics course. It doesn't cover modern mathematics, but for previous periods it is so much better than many others available. For those brought up on Kline, Boyer, Struik, etc, this book is a refreshing challenge to the thinking we have grown up with. The author does not rant about the misconception of maths as a 'western invention', but instead presents a very readable and well argued history of mathematics in various cultures, and the links between them. I learnt far more from this book than I have from any other history of maths text. Highly recommended, particularly if you teach mathematics - there is so much material in here to liven up your classes.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, September 27, 2000

By 

K. Azam (CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Crest of the Peacock (Paperback)

A monumental work and an outstanding contribution to the history of early mathematics and a rare peep into the much neglected, albeit enormous contributions of the muslim arab, indian, persian and chinese mathematicians in shaping the field of mathematics. Few people will even come close to the extent of research that George Gheverghese Joseph in unearthing the mathematical histories of non-european origins.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Truly Amazing Book, August 29, 2001

By 

Johnson Aggrey (Ibadan, Nigeria) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Crest of the Peacock (Paperback)

I have just finished reading this book. It is an amazing experience for someone whose math stopped with the high school. The sections relating to the truly forgotten people - the original inhabitants of the Pacific region, the American continents and Africa- which is mainly contained in the last chapter entitled 'Reflections' were a revelation to me. Anybody who sees math as a truly global phenomena must read this book I would be most interested in knowing more about the author.