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The World of Mathematics Hardcover – Box set, January 1, 1956

by James R. Newman (Author)

20 customer reviews

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Hardcover, Box set, January 1, 1956

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$43.05

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$35.49

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The objective of this anthology is to introduce intelligent laypersons to the scope, power, significance and beauty of mathematics. It comprises a four-volume set with the selection of articles arranged within topic groupings.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

The World of Mathematics [Box set]

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Product Details

Hardcover: 2469 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster; 1st edition (January 1, 1956)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0671829408
ISBN-13: 978-0671829407
Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 1.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,966,766 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #408 in Books > Science & Math > Mathematics > Reference

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Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars

5 star		80%
4 star		5%
3 star		5%
2 star		5%
1 star		5%

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

Superb reference text for the general reader..

By Kersi Von Zerububbel VINE VOICE on September 6, 2000

Format: Paperback

This four volume set is a gem. I bought this treasure back in 1973 but I still go back to it at least twice a week. The writing is uneven because of the different authors who have contributed articles. However, the substance of the book is top notch. Starting with the number system all the way to the differential calculus and parts of game theory, the book is a treasury of mathematical delights. Just pick a chapter, and you are sure to be sucked in. Another point I wish to make is the design and layout of the books. There are no slick, extra large, shiny page designs here. Just plain 6 by 8 size pages with appropriate black and white diagrams. This is when books used to be more like friends, often in one's company, and much perused. It is truly a shame that this series is out of print. If you happen to find it somewhere introduce yourself!!

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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

One of my all-time favorite books.

By Carol Geis on March 23, 1998

Format: Paperback

I received this book from my father as a high school graduation gift to take with me as a budding mathematics student at college. I have been "dipping into it" ever since. It is a delicious compendum of all the neat things that have happened in mathematics and those disciplines that mathematics had touched up to the time that the book was written. I received my copy in 1960 and I still delight in looking things up when I see a reference in another book. I've deliberately resisted reading the four volumes from cover to cover as that would spoil the surprise and fun. Different chapters are written by different contributors so there is a wealth of viewpoints and styles. By the 90's the scientific disciplines have become quite adept at sharing their discoveries, but when this book was written it was not yet the accepted thing. So the persective is very interesting. I looked up this book to see if there would be any reviews, so I thought I should write one while I am here.

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

An old reader

By Andrew Clark on April 24, 2012

Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase

I read this book as a child more than 50 years ago. I was enthralled by its easy explaination of mathematical texts and its, to me, value in placing great math in an historical context. I remember taking a long train ride from Phildelphia to Omaha and these books were my constant pleasure and delight. A good book for any pre-teen or teen who is ready to read some great math in a challenging but digestible form (also a good book for folks older than a 13 - 15 year old).

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Great Boxed Set on a Great Subject

By Christopher Nicholby on June 10, 2009

Format: Hardcover

I acquired this boxed set from a library sale for only $5, and I didn't read any of it for almost a year, what a mistake that has been. The articles included are unabridged and begin with an amazing commentary by James Newman, which adds to the experience of reading the article, which a commentary should do. The articles range from simple to fairly complex, but they are all fairly easy to grasp with a marginal grasp of mathematics.

All in all, this set is worth every penny that I paid for it, and much, much more.

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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

Excellent "teaser" about all that is great about Mathematics

By Juan Alvarado on May 15, 1998

Format: Paperback

I received the 6-volume spanish version of this work from the Venezuelan Ministry of Education in 1982 as one of the prizes of the national math olympics. For anyone who has an interest in this subject and would like to get a taste of the breadth and variety of all the faces of this discipline, without getting too much into the details, this is an excellent work. I've looked for an English print, without success (although I've seen some volumes being sold second hand).

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

A backround into mathematics and the rise of mathematics

By A Customer on September 13, 1998

Format: Paperback

this is a book that I recieved as a junior in High School. I am currently a senior and I still enjoy looking into this book for mathematical insight and history.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

The World of Mathematics

By WaltL on November 7, 2012

Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase

I have owned a paperback copy of this compendium since it was first published. I had always intended to replace the set with the hardbound...hence my purchase. Seemingly dated, I believe this set is still a viable and definitive history of Mathematics. It will provide hours of short nontechnical articles to stimulate and feed the imagination of students, scientists, mathematicians and/or others just interested in enhancing their knowledge.

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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

Es una obra Exelente para entender las matematicas

By A Customer on December 1, 1998

Format: Paperback

Al leer esta enciclopedia, aprendí que las matemáticas pueden ser fascinantes, y no muy difíciles de entender. Es muy agradable entender los razonamientos que impulsaron grandes descubrimientos, en estos Libros el autor nos explica claramente todos los pasos para ello. Nos muestra el trabajo de los mejores Matemáticos y las consecuencias de sus trabajos. Nos contagia el gusto por esta ciencia. En México se puede conseguir en la librería La aventura de Leer .
Jorge Gallegos

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Three Stars

books were musty and smelled bad. Cat litter exposure seems to have cured it.

Published 4 months ago by Eleanor Wille

Five Stars

excellent service. Books as advertised.

Published 10 months ago by jazxr

Treasure Trove

I needed a hard bound set. Otherwise the set of volumes are a tresure trove of history of mathematics. The articles have been written by reputed scientists and a joy to read.

Published 10 months ago by DR CR SRIDHAR

1 out of 4.

Only received one book of the set.

Published 12 months ago by David S. Morgan

Five Stars

It is very good

Published 16 months ago by Robert R. Openshaw

amazing anthology

I just received the four volume set & it's in great shape / looking through the table of contents & I can see it's going to be one hell of a rollercoaster ride

Published on July 26, 2013 by J. Xavier

Terrible Packaging - Damaged Case

Advertised with a slipcase. The slipcase was broken because the set of 4 books was shipped in a padded envelope! Thankfully, but books survived. Read more

Published on December 12, 2012 by bjunior

A Historical Compendium

A wonderful collection of the historical developments in the field of mathematics by the original authors/discoverers without limitation on their original disciplines.

Published on July 1, 2012 by James P. Truesdell

Good product, timely delivery. Good job!

The set of four books was complete and in very good shape considering the age of the set.

Published on August 4, 2010 by William

A Tour de' Force of many Giants upon which Shoulder's I'd love to...

I picked up this 4 volume set, in mint condition, at an estate sale june 2010 and they were the set from a man in his 90s who had not cracked open this set for decades. Read more

Published on July 12, 2010 by Marc J. Driftmeyer