Time Travel and Other Mathematical Bewilderments [Hardcover]

Martin Gardner (Author), M. Gardner (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 295 pages
• Publisher: W.H. Freeman & Company (September 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 071671924X
• ISBN-13: 978-0716719243
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.7 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,812,331 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

For 25 of his 95 years, Martin Gardner wrote 'Mathematical Games and Recreations', a monthly column for Scientific American magazine. These columns have inspired hundreds of thousands of readers to delve more deeply into the large world of mathematics. He has also made significant contributions to magic, philosophy, debunking pseudoscience, and children's literature. He has produced more than 60 books, including many best sellers, most of which are still in print. His Annotated Alice has sold more than a million copies. He continues to write a regular column for the Skeptical Inquirer magazine.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Collection from Martin Gardner, October 15, 2000

By 

true1987 "zein" (Athens, GA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Time Travel and Other Mathematical Bewilderments (Hardcover)

This book is another great collection of problems, discussions, and mathematical curiosities from Martin Gardner - and one of his best.

In this book, Martin Gardner has assembled an absorbing discussion on the theoretical aspects and possibility of time travel, including the many paradoxes that may arise; two problem collections to give to try out yourself and give to your friends; two chapters on tangrams and tiling each; along with 15 more chapters on interesting topics such as the melody-making machines, anamorphic art, block packing and more.

Particularly interesting are the chapters "Six Sensational Discoveries" and "Dodgem and Other Simple Games." The former is a collection of six April Fool's jokes he published in April of 1975. The latter is an extensive and occupying discussion of simple games that one can play with friends, along with winning strategies for some and just mathematical theories for others.

I strongly recommend this book for those interested in mathematical curiousities and the likeness. It is especially interesting for children of ages 6-12; they may not understand everything, but certain chapters they will remember and revisit forever!