Dozens of examples in innumeracy show us how it affects not only personal economics and travel plans, but explains mischosen mates, inappropriate drug-testing, and the allure of psuedo-science.
Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
This is the book that made "innumeracy" a household word, at least in some households. Paulos admits that "at least part of the motivation for any book is anger, and this book is no exception. I'm distressed by a society which depends so completely on mathematics and science and yet seems to indifferent to the innumeracy and scientific illiteracy of so many of its citizens."
But that is not all that drives him. The difference between our pretensions and reality is absurd and humorous, and the numerate can see this better than those who don't speak math. "I think there's something of the divine in these feelings of our absurdity, and they should be cherished, not avoided."
Paulos is not entirely successful at balancing anger and absurdity, but he tries. His diatribes against astrology, bad math education, Freud, and willful ignorance are leavened with jokes, mathematical or the sort (he claims) favored by the numerate.
It remains to be seen if Innumeracy will indeed be able, as Hofstadter hoped, to "help launch a revolution in math education that would do for innumeracy what Sabin and Salk did for polio"--but many of the improvements Paulos suggested have come to pass within 10 years. Only time will tell if the generation raised on these new principles is more resistant to innumeracy--and need only worry about being incomputable. --Mary Ellen Curtin
Review
He takes us a couple of steps closer to numeracy, and it is all in all an enlightening place to be. -- Christopher Lehman-Haupt, New York Times, 1989
Paulos makes numbers, probability, and statistics perform like so many trained seals for the reader's entertainment and enlightenment. -- Jon Van, Chicago Tribune, 1989
The innumerate will surely profit from this entertaining book. -- Morris Kline, New York Times Book Review, 1989
The world, as seen by Paulos, is less mysterious, yet somehow more elegant, less magical, yet more wonderful. So many apparently strange events do, in fact, become all the more magnificent in their not-so-fearful symmetry. -- Arthur Salm, San Diego Tribune, 1989
This admirable little book is only 135 pages long. You can read it in 2 hours. Chances are that they could be among the most enlightening and even profitable 120 minutes you ever spent. -- Henry Kisor, Cicago Sun-Times, 1989
This elegant survival manual is brief, witty, and full of practical applications. (Stefan Kanfer, Time Magazine, 1989)
Paulos makes numbers, probability, and statistics perform like so many trained seals for the reader's entertainment and enlightenment. -- Jon Van, Chicago Tribune, 1989
The innumerate will surely profit from this entertaining book. -- Morris Kline, New York Times Book Review, 1989
The world, as seen by Paulos, is less mysterious, yet somehow more elegant, less magical, yet more wonderful. So many apparently strange events do, in fact, become all the more magnificent in their not-so-fearful symmetry. -- Arthur Salm, San Diego Tribune, 1989
This admirable little book is only 135 pages long. You can read it in 2 hours. Chances are that they could be among the most enlightening and even profitable 120 minutes you ever spent. -- Henry Kisor, Cicago Sun-Times, 1989
This elegant survival manual is brief, witty, and full of practical applications. (Stefan Kanfer, Time Magazine, 1989)
REVIEW: Like carrying on a conversation with an engaging, articulate math whiz who easily shifts from the profound to the funny. -- Christopher Farrell, Business Week, 1989
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
73 of 74 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
In this short book, Paulos does an outstanding job of pointing out what lack of number intimacy can do to a person. The anecdotes are outstanding, especially the ones on large numbers and on probability. For example, he shows how one is fooled by probability: If we have 23 people in a room, what is the probability that two of them have the same birthday? 50%!! Very conterintuitive.
The author also tries to understand why it is almost considered acceptable for a person to admit that one is "bad with numbers", while it not being ok to be "bad with words". The realm of psychology is not his forte, but the ideas he points to are interesting.
Overall, this is an easy to read book, much easier even to one literate with numbers. I was done with it in 3 hours, and was left wanting more, so much so that I am now buying some more of his works. If they are half as good as Innumeracy, then they will be good enough.
46 of 47 people found the following review helpful
By A. G. Plumb
Format:Paperback
I read this book several years ago and believe it to be a classic that would enhance any mathematics study course by making it topical and a part of the reader/student's everyday environment. What mathematics teaching needs is humanising - this book could go some way towards doing this.
This short review follows a review I have just written for 'I Think Therefore I Laugh' - another of Mr Paulos' books. Because I rate 'Innumeracy' so highly I decided to look at Customer Reviews for it, and found some clashed with my own assessment.
Some reviewrs are offended by Mr Paulos' perceived attitude towards the innumerate - believing that he is condescending in an off-putting way. I don't see it that way except inasmuch as we are all innumerate at some level and have to learn to become more numerate - just as a golfer has to learn to read the cut of the green if they want to be a good putter. And numeracy skills will certainly enhance the way we see the world and respond to its mysteries as Mr Paulos shows so cleary.
95 of 104 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The problem that resulted in this book is far-reaching: the public simply doesn't understand mathematics. Statistics, ranging from a 10%-off sale to the sort found in opinion polls, are unfathomable to the general populace. Probability, especially in the context of gambling, is understood by only a scant handful of people. The list of misunderstood mathematics is nearly endless.
In the first few chapters of the book, Paulos describes various issues that the innumerate (that is, those who don't understand numbers and math) often have issues understanding. He describes the issue to a reasonable level of detail, then derives answers for them. Don't let the use of the word 'derive' scare you off: the answers are readable and readily understandable to a general audience. In some cases, if you're really rusty, you might need to read them a second time to grasp the solution.
Later chapters, however, are not written for the innumerate. They are attempts to convince the reader that mathematical education needs to be improved. I think that everyone agrees that education should be improved, but he offers suggestions that are impractical or nonsensical.
Ultimately, the problem of this book is a lack of focus. Paulos could have written either a book that tackles basic mathematical issues that the general public doesn't understand, or he could have written a book that describes the consequences of innumeracy. He tried to do both, and stuffed both topics into a single slim volume. In doing so, he shortchanges both audiences. The result is a book that is good, but does not fully address the needs of anyone.
If you find yourself uncomfortable with mathematics, pick up a copy of this book and read up to chapter five. If you are comfortable with mathematics and are looking for fodder to prove the point that improving mathematical knowledge at any level is productive, this book will not serve your purpose.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
i recommend it for ALL americans
if everyone would read and digest this we might be less retarded as a nation. the examples are spot on.
Published 1 month ago by michael ford
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must Read!
This book addresses a key issue in American society. It contains more math than most readers would enjoy, but that's the point.
Published 2 months ago by Pen Name
4.0 out of 5 stars
Humorous and Enlightening for the Lay Reader
This book uses humor and numerous examples to illustrate many ways in which limited understanding of mathematical concepts can lead to grossly inaccurate interpretation of... Read more
Published 2 months ago by c2
4.0 out of 5 stars
Review
i found this books take on math illiteracy to be interesting it helped me to understand a new aspect as a math teacher.
Published 2 months ago by monte eldridge
3.0 out of 5 stars
good, but a little sensationalist
Paulos makes some great points, but he rambles a lot, and as a result the book is poorly organized. Also, he seems to take an excessively negative perspective. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Alex
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must read
Funny and informative
Should be required reading in school. Give the first few pages a read using the "look inside" amazon feature and you will be hooked.
Should be required reading in school. Give the first few pages a read using the "look inside" amazon feature and you will be hooked.
Published 4 months ago by Bryan Moorman
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good, but I like Strogatz much better
I haven't finished reading the book, but I find myself skipping over chunks of paragraphs because Paulos really gets into "the weeds" in many of his discussions of statistics. Read more
Published 7 months ago by JerZGirl
4.0 out of 5 stars
Professor Paulos lashes out at American mathematical idiocy...
...and he generally does a productive job of educating while clearing his anger. INNUMERACY is the first and best known of several volumes Paulos has written about American fear... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Allen Smalling
4.0 out of 5 stars
Even a highschooler can like this book
Innumeracy opens your mind and makes you question things you have heard on television and the news. John Allen Paulos, who is fantastically witty, explains complex and simple... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Diane Hood
5.0 out of 5 stars
An important read
Many people would be uncomfortable with the idea of being illiterate, but few people understand that innumeracy can adversely impact one's life. Read more
Published 13 months ago by maniatisa
