Customer Reviews

Mathematics: Its Content, Methods and Meaning (Dover Books on Mathematics)

5 star:		(12)
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In addition to my previous review, concerning the contents, here are a few additions on physical aspects.

This 1999 paperback edition has all three volumes in one binding. The paper is thinner so the book is less bulky. Page number resets at the beginning of volume 2 and 3. (not renumbered.) Thus the book content is not altered from the 2nd edition (three volumes set) from MIT Press in 1969.

One major change is that there is one index at the end of the book which covers all three volumes. The volume is indicated together with the page number. This improves the convenience.

I whole-heartedly agree with the other positive reviews offered here. There are only a few things I would like to add:

(1) Popular math and science has become quite popular lately. I'm sure that there are many pop-math/pop-sci readers who would like a more 'meatier' treatment of math that still has an accessible style. If you're in that group, then this book is for you.

It basically requires recollection of high school algebra and a willingness to wade through and learn some challenging material. I should add that the book looks intimidating in size but this is mostly due to the fact that Dover has bound 3 volumes as 1 (which is actually a great deal for readers).

(2) I can't think of too may books that can, with effort, take a novice through the bulk of a college/university level math curriculum.

(3) This book contains material by 2 of the greatest mathematicians/scientists of all time: Andrei Kolmogorov (famous for his work on probability and information theory as well as Kolmogorov Complexity/Algorithmic Information Theory) and I. M. Gelfand (for his work on mathematical physics). The book is worth buying for that reason alone.

It is a wonderful book. It reminds me of "The Feynman Lectures" in that it focuses on understanding, is (relatively) accessibly, has an incredible depth, and in that it covers an amazing amount. It includes "real" instruction, and you would be able to "do problems" after reading the book, although the real focus is more on understanding/ conceptual stuff.

This book gives a nice overview of the various fields of mathematics (no pun intended ;-)). Famous Russian authors have pooled their talents to come up with a book that summarizes the majority of the mathematics available the time. It's basically a dictionary for mathematicians! Covers topics from number theory, calculus, analysis, topology and even higher up subjects such as functional analysis and differential geometry. There are interesting theorems, and examples throughout.

The Dover edition is 3 volumes in one. Many of the copies for sale here are just ONE of the 3 volumes. So be careful what you order!

This is a superb series of essays on major areas of math, by leading Russian mathematicians. They provide a splendid but SERIOUS introduction to each area. It is 50 years old but all this stuff is still central to any math related degree.

The book does a great job providing "motivation" and connecting the areas of math together. I wish I had had it when I did my degrees.

Suitable for those in math, physics, engineering. If you want a less ambitious, popular account of math then look for Ian Stewart's Concepts of Modern Mathematics, also from Dover.

Anf again, be careful about what you order.

This books is an amazing summary of almost all undergraduate math. It is definitely a mathematical masterpiece of all time, written by some of the most prominent mathematicians of all time.

This book is one of my top-five favourites. It always stands on my desk, where I find myself opening it twice of thrice a week. The book was written in the 50's in the Soviet Union and is understandably contaminated with Marxist propaganda. Also for this reason some chapters are badly dated (those on calculating machines, for example). However, if you are able to see beyond these details, you will be carefully guided by the hand through beautiful and profound mathematics by some of the most accomplished mathematicians of the XXth century, and you will never regret buying this book. Buy the Dover edition (ISBN 0486409163) which has all three volumes in one single book (1120 pages!!!)

This book is a fairly complete review of the mathematics that an undergraduate math student should be expected to know. The book does not engage in the often high levels of formality that is expected of a mathematician engaged in research, but this works to the advantage of those who are reading it to learn or to review some concept. Tying various concepts to geometry is a pedagogical device that is frequently used and done well here, providing readers with an intuitive view of the methods and the meaning of the methods of the basic modern mathematical tools. The style is clean and readable. I observed no major issues with the translation. The sections of the book are kept in a logical order and transitions between sections are not jarring.

As for the physical book, Dover has once again proven it's place as a publisher of high quality and relatively low cost books. The book is quite hefty, but it's written with all possible economy so don't let that scare you away from it.

I would reccomend this book to any math student who wants a one stop and readable reference for their mathematical tools.

I cannot recommend this book enough to all the math lovers who wants to get a broader view of math with limited background.

This is a great book for self study. Anyone with a high school math background can pick up this book and learn some college level math. This book is not detailed and rigorous as what you read in college textbooks but the intention of this three volume masterpiece is to lay foundations for math enthusiasts so that they can have a broad view of what is math (as the title suggests) and can pick up more advanced books in a more specialized area. And this book really does a great job on this.

An excellent book covering a breadth of mathematical fields. The authors convey the general character of many areas of mathematics, without use excessive formality or pedantry. Highly recommended.