The Mathematical Universe: An Alphabetical Journey Through the Great Proofs, Problems, and Personalities [Hardcover]

William Dunham (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0471536563 | ISBN-13: 978-0471536567 | Publication Date: July 28, 1994 | Edition: 1

"Dunham writes for nonspecialists, and they will enjoy his piquant anecdotes and amusing asides -- Booklist

"Artfully, Dunham conducts a tour of the mathematical universe. . . he believes these ideas to be accessible to the audience he wants to reach, and he writes so that they are." -- Nature

"If you want to encourage anyone's interest in math, get them The Mathematical Universe."
* New Scientist

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The Mathematical Universe is a solid collection of short essays, with each addressing a particular mathematical topic. Titles range from "Isoperimetric Problem" to "Where Are the Women?" Author Dunham manages to maintain a conversational tone while referencing diagrams, equations, and rigorous arguments throughout the book. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Library Journal

Like John Allen Paulos's Beyond Numeracy (LJ 4/1/91), this is an A-to-Z collection of mathematical essays. The advantage of this format is that it lets the author hit the highlights in essays that can be read independently. This collection is less cantankerous than Paulos's, and it is also somewhat more focused and mathematically challenging, though still written for a popular audience. Dunham (Journey Through Genius: The Great Theorems of Mathematics, Wiley, 1990) is winner of the 1993 George Polya Award for excellence in math writing, an honor he richly deserves. He is fascinated by the nature of mathematical genius, and the theme of these essays is the personality and eccentricities of mathematicians and the brilliance of their discoveries. For sophisticated readers who don't mind equations (including algebra, geometry, and calculus), this is a rewarding and entertaining look at the history of mathematics.
Amy Brunvand, Fort Lewis Coll. Lib., Durango, Col.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 314 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (July 28, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471536563
• ISBN-13: 978-0471536567
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,197 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

William Dunham, Koehler Professor of Mathematics at Muhlenberg College, is the author of "Journey Through Genius: The Great Theorems of Mathematics"; "The Mathematical Universe"; and "Euler: The Master of Us All". He has received the Mathematical Association of America's George Polya, Trevor Evans, and Lester R. Ford awards, as well as its Beckenbach Prize for expository writing.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Magnificent Overview, November 11, 2000

By 

Timothy Haugh (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Mathematical Universe: An Alphabetical Journey Through the Great Proofs, Problems, and Personalities (Paperback)

I first read this book a number of years ago and recently read it again. I still think it is a magnificent overview of basic mathematics. In fact, it is one of the best overviews of basic mathematics that I have ever read. Dunham covers a wide range of topics and he does so in a very readable and understandable manner without giving up reasonable mathematical rigor. Someone with elementary algebra and geometry can follow all of Dunham's arguments and enjoy.

Of course, it is impossible to cover the entire range of mathematics in a book such as this but Dunham has chosen well. He sticks mainly to the fundementals of the major fields. In addition, his book reminds us that people with personalities have developed mathematics and that it's not a field created merely to strike fear into the hearts of schoolkids (and adults).

This book will always hold a special place for me: it was the catalyst for an epiphany. I had been teaching high school geometry for a few years when this book came out and I was very good at teaching the modern methods of proof and problem-solving. On the other hand, I didn't really like teaching constructions, because, though I could do them quite well, I didn't truly understand their place and function in geometry and its development. When I first read chapter "G" of this book ("Greek Geometry"), however, it was like a thousand puzzle pieces fell into place and I knew more than how to do constructions, I understood them and was able to teach them more effectively.

If you have any interest in mathematics at all, I recommend this book. It will not disappoint.

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Broad Coverage, but Fewer Proofs than Dunham's Other Works, January 5, 2003

By 

Allan Heydon (San Francisco, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Mathematical Universe: An Alphabetical Journey Through the Great Proofs, Problems, and Personalities (Paperback)

In this follow-on to his excellent "Journey Through Genius", William Dunham once again breathes life into a variety of mathematical topics. Whereas "Journey" was arranged around 12 great mathematical theorems, this book is arranged around the 26 letters of the alphabet. Some chapters cover the work of individuals (e.g., "Euler", "Knighted Newton", "Lost Leibniz", and "Russell's Paradox"), while others describe important mathematical results (e.g., "Isoperimetric Problem", "Spherical Surface", and "Trisection"). Still others, such as "Mathematical Personality" and "Where are the Women?", address social aspects of the field.

As in the previous book, Dunham's descriptions are entertaining and enlightening. The main difference is that this book has broader coverage. As a result, it tends to omit more of the proofs, which I found disappointing, but perhaps that will make it of interest to a wider audience. For people with a deeper interest in mathematics, I recommend you read either "Journey Through Genius" or "Euler: The Master of Us All", another Dunham masterpiece that includes detailed proofs throughout.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice book, but not Dunhams best., August 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Mathematical Universe: An Alphabetical Journey Through the Great Proofs, Problems, and Personalities (Paperback)

I have now read Dunhams 'Journey through Genius', 'Euler, the master of us all' and 'The Mathematical Universe'. These are three great books on Mathematics and choosing can become difficult. My personal favourite is 'Journey through Genius'.If you are mainly interested in magnificent proofs (real gems)with a historical account, then I would recommend 'Journey through Genius', for lots of nice eulerian proofs, then I recommend 'Euler, the master of us all' and if you want more a overview with some proofs and less depth, then buy 'The mathematical Universe'.