Mathematical Cranks (Spectrum) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Many cranks give mathematics a great deal more credit than it deserves..." (more)
Key Phrases: mathematical cranks, fifth postulate, odd perfect numbers, Fermat's Last Theorem, United States, Grand Unified Field (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

A delightful collection of true accounts of individuals who claim to have achieved the mathematically impossible ... It is hard to put down and provides topics for an unending series of interesting discussions. The organization and breadth of the book are impressive, supported by a helpful index and a list of resources that encourage further explorations. A classic. -- CHOICE Magazine

This humorous and charming book of essays is for all readers interested in the human side of mathematics. It is well written in an informal conversational style...Read it. the book, I believe will have an essay of interest to anyone who reads it. It reminded me of Martin Gardners many books...At times the reading brought forth chuckles...It is interesting, pleasant, recreational reading -- The Mathematics Teacher

Review

'A delightful collection of true accounts of individuals who claim to have achieved the mathematically impossible ... It is hard to put down and provides topics for an unending series of interesting discussions. The organization and breadth of the book are impressive, supported by a helpful index and a list of resources that encourage further explorations. A classic.' Choice

'Dudley Underwood extracts insights from an astonishing variety of examples.' Robert Matthews, New Scientist

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: The Mathematical Association of America (September 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0883855070
• ISBN-13: 978-0883855072
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #662,275 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Breezy and enjoyable, April 22, 2005

By	Daniel H. Bigelow (Cathlamet, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

In this book, math professor Underwood Dudley catalogues the characteristics and errors of mathematical cranks. These are the people, usually mathematical amateurs, who believe they have done the impossible: squared the circle, calculated a different value of pi (or in some cases, several different values), and so forth. Math has the advantage over darn near every other human system that one can absolutley prove these people are wrong, but that doesn't stop a true crank.

I am no math whiz, and a lot of this book is over my head. But I am a crank enthusiast (if you are, too, the best World Wide Web cranks can be found at Crank.net, with which I have no affiliation). What interests me most in this book, other than Dudley's enthusiastic and deft writing, are his catalogues of crank behavior -- for instance, how they can go from enthusiastic amateur to demented conspiracy theorist rather than simply admit nobody's paying attention to them because they're wrong. The math-oriented parts of the book are interesting case studies, and the crank-oriented parts have general application to all cranks, even of the non-mathematical variety. This makes for a useful and entertaining book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious look at human foilbles and mathematics., December 29, 1998

By A Customer

Underwood Dudly's book is great fun, especially if if you have ever tried to argue with someone impervious to reason. His very funny tales of encounters with mathematical cranks will probably sound familiar. You will also learn a lot about mathematical and scientific reasoning along with hilarious examples of how not to do mathematics. The author's points on how to identify and avoid cranks can serve readers well in all walks of life, not just mathematics.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best math book of 1992, April 22, 2004

By	Charles Ashbacher "([e-mail])" (Marion, Iowa United States([e-mail])) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

It is a very rare occasion when a writer addresses a topic that is largely unexplored.
Add the additional condition that it be done in a thoughtful, engaging manner and a jewel is created. This is such a book. Few people, in and out of mathematics, realize that there are people who believe themselves capable of doing the mathematically impossible. They do exist, and Dudley describes them and their obsessions in a frank and engaging manner.
Thankfully, such people have always existed and hopefully that state will continue. For they are the ones who often provide the driving force for positive change. Unfortunately, some cross that ill-defined line and refuse to consider the evidence contradicting their claims. Many fail to understand that mathematical truth is incommensurate with physical theory. The proofs found in the Elements of Euclid are just as true today as they were when first written. The alteration of physical theory over time is largely due to the refinements of the experiments. Of course, this does not stop them from appealing to the changes that have taken place in physical theory over the years. The persecution of Galileo is often cited by cranks as an example of eventual vindication.
Even mathematicians are not immune to the disease of crankery . Some of the people described in this book possessed a high degree of mathematical education (including professors!), but even that failed to vaccinate them against this strange malady.
Since the vast majority of cranks are attracted to the simple problems of squaring the circle or trisecting the angle, the mathematical level is fairly low. Some experience in calculus is necessary to understand all of the material, although much of that written by the cranks is incomprehensible.
A fascinating description of disturbed personalities that somehow found their way to mathematics, Mathematical Cranks is entertaining and thought provoking. It is the most interesting book that I have read this year.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission.