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200% of Nothing : An Eye-Opening Tour through the Twists and Turns of Math Abuse and Innumeracy 1st Edition

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A. K. Dewdney (Author)
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A. K. Dewdney (Author)
2.9 out of 5 stars 10 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0471577768
ISBN-10: 0471577766
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 192 pages
  • Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (May 31, 1993)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0471577766
  • ISBN-13: 978-0471577768
  • Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 0.8 x 9.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,926,962 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 61 people found the following review helpful
"200 Percent of Nothing" is 50 Percent Paulos
By A Customer on January 27, 1998
Format: Hardcover
When Dewdney took over Douglas Hofstadter's Scientific American column, he had some pretty big shoes to fill. But he did a marvellous job, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading his Computer Recreations every month. They were original and inspiring. With 200 percent of nothing, Dewdney is clearly scraping the barrel. When I read it, I thought it was OK, although I found the style of writing pretty bad. Still, there was enough enjoyable material there. However, I recently read John Allen Paulos' "Innumeracy", and that was a real shocker. Paulos' book is *so* much better than Dewdney's, that it is embarrasing the latter one. Not only that, but comparing the two books, it is evident that Dewdney leaned heavily on "Innumeracy". Yes, he *does* reference the book, but many, many of his examples are taken straight from it. Worse even, he writes the examples in his own words, which makes it immediately clear that he is not even close to the perfect style of writing Paulos displays. After having read "200 Percent of Nothing", I gave it a 7, but after reading "Innumeracy" (which I rate at 10), Dewdney's feeble attempt devaluates to a 4. "200 Percent of Nothing" is 50 Percent Paulos and 150 Percent hot air.
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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Can You Get An Edge On Winning The Lottery
By Bucherwurm on January 21, 1999
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
Certainly this country of ours needs to be concerned about its illiteracy problem. It perhaps should be even more concerned about innumeracy, the mathematical equivalent of illiteracy. While many of us would be insulted if someone questioned our ability to comprehend the written word, we quite easily laugh at being idiots when mathematics is involved.
As a result we think nothing of an ad promising that a new light bulb will save 200% on energy. If that statement sounds OK to you, then you better read this book or one like it.
Here's a slim tome that addresses some of the more egregious insults to the field of mathematics and statistics. If you are totally innumerate it will raise your numbers IQ a few points. It's an easy book to read; too easy, as a matter of fact, and that's a shame. The author provides very little theory, many, sometimes useless, anecdotes, and some soap box preaching about mathematics being the premiere science.
He does touch on the mathematics of probablity, a subject that most people should know more about. Anyone with a basic knowledge of probability quickly realizes that coincidences don't just happen, they MUST happen. That fact throws a wrench into a lot of "sciences of the paranormal." And remember, from a statistical standpoint your chance of winning the big lottery is no different whether you buy a ticket or don't buy it. Is there a way to improve your chances for winning big? Yes. Pick numbers that no one else picks like, 1,2,3,4,5,6. That way you run less of a chance of getting tied with someone.
There are other books out there that give you better information, but this one is OK if you want to learn a little applied math without having to turn your brain on at all.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Confirms what I've always suspected.
By mudbug@cmq.com on January 4, 1998
Format: Hardcover
The way you feel when you see those 1-900-pshycic info-mercials (how can ANYONE be SO stupid?). Well, after reading this book, I can summize why the people who DON'T call DON'T call... Certainly an adequate and explainative adaptation to modern, everyday reasoning; as well as how it realistically corresponds to the average "Joe". Put new batteries in your scientific calculator, and have a ball comparing notes! At times, somewhat a little insulting to your intelligence, while at other times opens your eyes to simple little things that you've seen 100 times, put into a true but different perspective. Bottom line...I'm glad that I bought it, and will most assuredly reference it from time to time now that its on my bookshelf.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Dewdney lacks imagination
By Roger M. Wilcox on April 3, 2013
Format: Paperback
Two examples stand out in this book that make me question Dewdney's grasp of the subject matter:

1. A car ad asks "How can a car that's only 3/4 of a foot longer have two feet more room? Must be the new math." Dewdney goes into an exhaustive analysis under the assumption that "two feet more room" means two cubic feet, and demonstrates that this woefully underestimates the added space. He then interprets it as two linear feet of extra room, and dismisses this as totally impossible, since adding 3/4 of a foot can't possibly add two extra feet. Dewdney seems not to understand that "room" refers to space in the PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, and that cars have parts OTHER THAN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT which can be shrunk -- such as the engine compartment and the trunk. Adding 2 linear feet to the passenger compartment is entirely feasible in a car only 3/4 of a foot longer, if you make the trunk and/or the engine compartment 1-1/4 foot shorter.

2. He mentions concerns about putting milk in transparent containers, due to flourescent lights allegedly damaging the nutrients. He dismisses this possibility out of hand by saying "They probably weren't aware that the little light in the refrigerator turns off when the door is closed." Cute, but it makes me wonder if Dewdney has ever gone to a supermarket in his life. The dairy displays in most supermarkets are closed behind glass doors and CONSTANTLY LIT, usually by fluorescent lights, so that shoppers can see the products on display.
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