Sweet Reason: A Field Guide to Modern Logic (Textbooks in Mathematical Sciences) [Paperback]

Tom Tymoczko (Author), Jim Henle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 10, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0387989307 | ISBN-13: 978-0387989303

A revolutionary, introductory text for courses on modern logic. While the basic rudiments of formal and informal logical are all clearly described here, it also focuses students on the real world, where the discipline of logic adds substance and meaning to all kinds of human discourse. Everything from puzzles, paradoxes, and mathematical proofs, to campaign debate excerpts, government regulations, and cartoons are used to show how logic is put to work by philosophers, mathematicians, advertisers, computer scientists, politicians, and others. As the book alternately discusses, instructs, questions, teases, and challenges, readers will find themselves absorbing the fundamentals of the discipline, becoming fluent in the language of logic, understanding how logic works in the real world, and enjoying logic's ability to entertain, surprise, subvert, and enlighten.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"I think that this is the sort of book that generates strong opinions: you will either find it bewildering and perhaps loathe it, or you will find fascinating. It is certainly unique. I can think of no other logic text where xou will find out that the fact that "Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo." is a valid English sentence. I am going to give my copy to the local school for use as a book for "Mathematics extension". I think my teenage sons will love it." R. Downey, Victoria University in Newsletter of the New Zealand Mathematical Society, No.82, August 2001

Product Details

• Paperback: 666 pages
• Publisher: Springer Publishing (December 10, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387989307
• ISBN-13: 978-0387989303
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,250,313 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best logic book ever, July 9, 2010

By 

anonymous (Lawrence, KS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sweet Reason: A Field Guide to Modern Logic (Textbooks in Mathematical Sciences) (Paperback)

If you want a boring book that tells you exactly what to do to get a good grade from your teacher, this is not it. If you want an interesting book that gets to the heart of modern logic with a rich collection of examples in real real life (as opposed to fake real life) ranging from politics to Donald Duck comics, that encourage you to think for yourself (sadly, no-one can make you think for yourself), that gives you a sense of why people care about the subject and why you should too --- this is that book. I cannot praise it highly enough.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very stimulating and ambitious, but not for the lazy, passive, or grade-grubbing, April 21, 2011

By 

me llamo coloso (virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sweet Reason: A Field Guide to Modern Logic (Textbooks in Mathematical Sciences) (Paperback)

Rich, stimulating, ambitious. As other reviews indicate, not for students who are lazy, passive, mainly interested in grades (as opposed to learning and being challenged) and in being slowly spoon-fed stuff that good students (or high school students in Asia) would devour.

4.0 out of 5 stars Challenging and wonderful, June 13, 2011

By 

bookscdsdvdsandcoolstuff "bookscdsdvdsandcool... (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sweet Reason: A Field Guide to Modern Logic (Textbooks in Mathematical Sciences) (Paperback)

This is a logic book written in a very interesting and challenging manner. First, I REALLY think that this is NOT the book to get if you are interested in teaching yourself logic. As a "field guide" for the uninitiated, I think it would fail. However, as a text-book for an introductory course where one can ask a teacher a question, or get involved in discussion with classmates, I think it is AWESOME, challenging and fun. I love logic. I think it is the best class I have ever taken, and I am going on record as saying that one is NOT educated until one has a basic familiarity with formal logic and reason. How can we think if we can't.... think? If A => ~A is a ludicrous statement. TAKE A LOGIC CLASS!

The authors take an approach that really requires one re-read a section several times. They do not try and do the teacher's (or the student's) job by explaining everything in a very simple way. Instead, they attempt to wake up the students' logic skills by giving them the meat, and forcing them to re-read to get it. Also, they often have you trying exercises where you are not guaranteed to succeed because they went over everything already. They are trying to get you to a point where you can figure some of this stuff out, USING logic itself. It is an interesting approach, and as it was written by two professors at Smith (one of whom has sadly passed on) it is classroom tested. It works.

Teachers who use this text need to be ON THE BALL however. One could not just hand the students this textbook, assign reading and assignments, and expect them to get it. This is a book that is written for, and really requires, the classroom setting and a dedicated teacher supporting that setting. It would work in an online class too. And if you are in a class using this book: DON'T CUT ANY CLASSES. Show up, stay on top of the reading, and stay on top of the assignments.

Just a tidbit from the conservative Christian in me: I know these are profs at Smith, and I get the vibe there. I have been to the North East, I have seen Smith College, and I have dialoged with women from there... I didn't just fall off the turnip truck. But, was there REALLY a reason to do all the gender bending logic examples at the beginning? They aren't proving anything with this by the way, just playing with symbols... why? At first I thought it was just unintentional: it was supposed to be silly and fun. But no... my wife corrected me. "What, are you NAIVE?" she asked... So, I am confused by this: why? Just to annoy readers like me? I am beyond all the culture war stuff, and I am not deducting stars from the review or anything, but I did find this mildly annoying.

Overall a GREAT text and a good introduction to logic for a college class. Strongly recommended.