Euclid in the Rainforest: Discovering Universal Truth in Logic and Math [BARGAIN PRICE] (Hardcover)

by Joseph Mazur (Author) "The mix of fragrances from blooming yucca, violets, red jasmine, and frangipani carried on the vapors of rising mists above the humid Orinoco River are..." (more)
Key Phrases: fallen truck, black chips, fifth postulate, Camille Jordan, Wigmore Street Post Office, Fundamental Theorem (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
You don't need a mind for maths or a love of algebra to enjoy this book about logic. Maths professor Joseph Mazur came almost reluctantly to the world of algebra, wondering what possible significance it could have in modern times - but he soon found himself applying its principles to three areas of logic. It might sound highbrow but Mazur writes with the exuberance of a born storyteller, making abstract ideas seem easy. He tosses in lots of anecdotes about his quirky adventures in the Greek islands, New York, and even the South American jungles. Each one makes a valid point and leads to a great understanding of logic and rationality. A real treat for those who love brainteasers, and accessible to people of all ages.(Kirkus UK) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
Like Douglas Hofstadter’s Gödel, Escher, Bach, and David Berlinski’s A Tour of the Calculus, Euclid in the Rainforest combines the literary with the mathematical to explore logic—the one indispensable tool in man’s quest to understand the world. Underpinning both math and science, it is the foundation of every major advancement in knowledge since the time of the ancient Greeks. Through adventure stories and historical narratives populated with a rich and quirky cast of characters, Mazur artfully reveals the less-than-airtight nature of logic and the muddled relationship between math and the real world. Ultimately, Mazur argues, logical reasoning is not purely robotic. At its most basic level, it is a creative process guided by our intuitions and beliefs about the world. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Pi Press (October 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131479946
• ASIN: B000VYPODI
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,369,542 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exploring Math through Fables, November 30, 2005

By	Edward F. Strasser "Éad" (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Euclid in the Rainforest: Discovering Universal Truth in Logic and Math (Hardcover)

I should start by saying that I didn't read this book to learn anything about mathematics; I already knew all the math in it. But I have long been interested in ways to present math ideas to people who aren't strong in math. Mazur's approach of putting the math into stories sounded interesting.

For example, in the section on Euclid, Mazur starts with a story about soldiers in the Amazon rain forest trying to pull a truck out of a gully. This involves a bit of trigonometry, which leads to a discussion of the Pythagorean Theorem. But it's not really about geometry; it's about how mathematicians approach problems and how they prove their solutions and even what it means to say that some mathematical statement is true. Mazur illustrates this by showing two non-mathematicians struggling with the theorem, trying to arrive at a solid proof, whatever that means. How they arrive at the proof, and what it means for something to be a proof, are just what this book is about.

Who, other than a teacher of mathematics, can profit from this book? The target audience consists of people who don't have much math education but are interested. But there is significant use of diagrams, numbers, and algebra. (By algebra I mean the rules of arithmetic; you don't have to be able to solve equations.) If you have "math anxiety" you might have trouble getting past that. Then again, the chatty style is designed to ease you through, so you might give it a try.

You might decide that my review would be more useful if you knew a bit more about my background. If so, click on my name at the head of this review.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best popular mathematics books I have ever read, May 13, 2007

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

This review is from: Euclid in the Rainforest: Discovering Universal Truth in Logic and Math (Hardcover)

Properly presented, the fundamental truths of mathematics are easy to understand. By that I mean that if they are presented in the appropriate non-technical language and with simple examples, then almost anyone can understand them. Mazur does this and does it very well. Much of the mathematics in this book is also philosophical in nature. A great deal of ink is spent in describing Zeno's famous paradox, "proving" that motion is impossible. His development of the solution to the paradox can be understood by anyone possessing the most rudimentary of mathematical backgrounds.
The role of proof in mathematics is also discussed, with questions raised as to what actually constitutes a proof. Mathematicians have debated this point since the Greeks invented the concept of the mathematical proof, and this is a good recapitulation of that debate. I consider it very healthy for the math profession to admit to the laity that mathematical proof is not necessarily fixed in concrete. It is also a point of significant honesty to admit that proofs that were considered correct for centuries contained flaws that were discovered and repaired.
There are three sections to the book:

*) Logic
*) Infinity
*) Reality.

The chapter "Does Math Really Reflect the Real World?" makes a point that often astounds mathematicians and others that work in the physical sciences. Namely, that mathematics does describe the real world, not only well, but often astonishingly well. New mathematical concepts are invented and considered to be purely abstract, there being no current practical application. However, as science progresses in other areas, that "purely abstract" idea suddenly has uses in the real world. Of course, the real world does have its flaws. It is impossible to create the perfect circle, the well-balanced coin and die do not exist and there are times when we cannot measure a value to enough decimal places to get true predictability. Those situations are also covered, which is important, as it points out that even the best mathematics does not give us absolute predictability. Fortunately, nearly all of the time, the good enough is in fact really good enough.
This is one of the best popular mathematics books that I have ever read; it covers the fundamentals that need to be covered and at a level that nearly everyone can understand.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adventure and Math. What's not to like?, July 13, 2005

By	Warren C. Chisler "Math Junky" (Maryland USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Euclid in the Rainforest: Discovering Universal Truth in Logic and Math (Hardcover)

I purchased this book a couple of weeks ago and can hardly put it down. I work in the area of operation research for the Navy and have recently decided to become a highschool math teacher. There are so many interesting examples of math in this book and great stories to boot. This book is an excelent example of how math can be entertaining. I would recomend it to anyone who wants to have a better understanding of math.