Automotive Holiday Deals HolEdit Shop Women's Dresses Learn more nav_sap_SWP_6M_fly_beacon Train egg_2015 All-New Amazon Fire TV Luxury Beauty Gifts Under $100 Street Art Project Amazon Gift Card Offer aos aos aos Amazon Echo Starting at $49.99 Kindle Voyage AntMan Outdoors Gift Guide on Amazon.com Deals

Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

  • Apple
  • Android
  • Windows Phone
  • Android

To get the free app, enter your email address or mobile phone number.
Download to your computer
Kindle Cloud Reader

Beyond Numeracy Reprint Edition

by
John Allen Paulos (Author)
› Visit Amazon's John Allen Paulos Page
Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
See search results for this author
Are you an author? Learn about Author Central
John Allen Paulos (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 15 customer reviews
ISBN-13: 978-0679738077
ISBN-10: 067973807X
Why is ISBN important?
ISBN
This bar-code number lets you verify that you're getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. The 13-digit and 10-digit formats both work.
Scan an ISBN with your phone
Use the Amazon App to scan ISBNs and compare prices.
Have one to sell? Sell on Amazon

Sorry, there was a problem.

There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Please try again.

Sorry, there was a problem.

List unavailable.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest
Buy used On clicking this link, a new layer will be open
$3.99 On clicking this link, a new layer will be open
Buy new On clicking this link, a new layer will be open
$14.52 On clicking this link, a new layer will be open
More Buying Choices
37 New from $1.75 94 Used from $0.01 3 Collectible from $9.15
134 used & new from $0.01
See All Buying Options
Free Two-Day Shipping for College Students with Amazon Student Free%20Two-Day%20Shipping%20for%20College%20Students%20with%20Amazon%20Student

Vargic's Miscellany of Curious Maps
"Vargic's Miscellany of Curious Maps"
Don't miss this full-color collection of humorous and inventive maps of the modern world. See more.
$14.52 FREE Shipping on orders over $35. Only 6 left in stock (more on the way). Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Frequently Bought Together

  • Beyond Numeracy
  • +
  • Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences
Total price: $26.52
Buy the selected items together

Customers Viewing This Page May Be Interested In These Sponsored Links

  (What's this?)
1.  Math Practice - Ages 5-15 opens new browser window
  -  
A math website kids love — Win awards, certificates, have fun!
www.ixl.com/Math
NO_CONTENT_IN_FEATURE
Hero Quick Promo
Up to 85% Off Over 1,000 Kindle Books
Visit our Holiday Deals store and save up to 85% on more than 1,000 Kindle books. These deals are valid until December 31, 2015. Learn more

Product Details

  • Paperback: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Vintage; Reprint edition (April 7, 1992)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 067973807X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0679738077
  • Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.7 x 8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #318,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
GREAT INTRO REFERENCE TO SIMPLE AND COMPLEX MATH
By Denis Benchimol Minev on August 13, 2004
Format: Paperback Verified Purchase
This is almost a sequel to Innumeracy in which Paulos goes beyond the simple exposition of people's difficulties with math to teach, in a very readable fashion, to main concepts of mathematics, be it simple high school, college, or even the complex research mathematics.

The nice thing about this book is that you can read it bit by bit, since each chapter that deals with a topic is about 3-5 pages long, so you won't get bored and if you don't understand one topic you can move on to the next one. The topics are not really connected, so one can just move on to somehting one finds more interesting.

Overall, I believe I now know what many of the complex topics like chaos theory are about. Enough for a cocktail conversation with a mathematician at least.
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
An excellent book
By Colin Mummery on October 24, 1999
Format: Paperback
I read "Innumeracy" and liked it so I read this book too. For me this book is better because there's more mathematical meat on it and it seems to sweep across the whole field of mathematics in easy to read pieces. I wish I'd read this before I started University, my undergraduate maths was so much disjointed rote learning. I got the grades but I'm not sure I really learned anything about mathematics. This book helps to put it all in perspective.
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Wonderful, fun-to-read educational book
By Scott Aponte (swa3@axe.humboldt.edu) on June 29, 1999
Format: Paperback
This book was required for my contemporay mathematics class in school, and I thought it was wonderful. Paulos explains many areas of mathematics so that anyone can understand. He does this using real-world examples. Paulos also explains how many common items in our lives are based on math. I think this is great for the student who finds himself/herself saying, "When am I ever going to use this in real life?" during their math classes.
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
one of the few great mathematics books.
By T SANTOSO on January 25, 2004
Format: Paperback
I was captured entirely by "innumaracy", so i dwelve deeper into John Allen Paulo works, his website and other books, and i manage to buy several of the books.
I particularly like beyond numeracy. It is not as easily read as innumeracy, but it is deeper and more insightful.
It is written in loose shorter essays focusing on special mathematic things. I love the explanation of "infinity", "chaos theory", "pi", "probability" etc. I think people interested slightly in mathematics will be enchanted and enjoying the book.
Some of the essays are only sweet writing words, some contain heavy formula that needs digestions and basic math understanding.
There are about 70 short essays in all that can be read independently at leasure. I found out i strted to get dizzy after reading 10 essays in a straight reading.
John proved that you can make dry stuff interesting, and if you read some of the materials and use if for conversation, it will makes you look like a whiz with great taste! that is one additional benefit of reading! and you will do it without the usual pain. ;-)
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Fascinating dictionary
By Gary Sprandel on September 23, 2003
Format: Paperback
These short essays, arranged alphabetically present a peek into mathematical topics, some I've long forgotten (differentials) and others new (non-Euclidian geometry). Paulos writes directly, usually without formulas, and if a particular essay doesn't click for you, keep turning, there's a new one in a few pages. Although the essays are mostly independent, there are some interesting connections. In light of the California governors voting recall, the section on voting systems seems clairvoyant, but he warns against the "Jean Dixon" effect in an earlier essay. The essays present mathematics as a dynamic field, and something as basic as variables, was just invented in the 16th century. Even since this book first came out, Fermat's last theorem has been proved, and there is even a larger prime number.
For those working with computers, there is a reminder of some of the mathematical background such as Al-Khwarizmi in Baghdad inventing the "Algorithm", the Turing Test, and sorting.
Paulos always touches on the human aspects of math, such as the fractal nature of human consciousness or mathematics in ethics.
QED - a great read
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
A Worthy Sequel to "Innumeracy" - Good Stuff
By Cliff Bauer on January 22, 2001
Format: Paperback
I thoroughly enjoyed "Innumeracy," Paulos's first contribution to educating the general public in math. "Beyond Numeracy" picks up where "Innumeracy" left off, but the book does not continue the excellence so characteristic of the Paulos's first. Many of the explanations are less than perfectly clear (very much unlike the case in "Innumeracy"), and the later chapters on more obscure topics, while still interesting, can get tedious and repetitive.
Don't get me wrong-"Beyond Numeracy"'s flaws do not make it unworthy of a read. It's a fun book, and one capable of illuminating many topics in math. If you do choose to read the work, however, don't worry too much about skipping a chapter here and there. The short chapters ensure that you don't miss too much, and again, the repetition that I mentioned can get tiresome.
Overall, an interesting read; I have found no better work about math "in general." Paulos is for the most part clear, concise, focused, and capable of relating the subjects of his many chapters to the real world. Good stuff.
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Beyond Numeracy--It's more than just a number
By devenie on January 27, 1998
Format: Paperback
Beyond Numeracy is a well written book which brings mathematics to life. There are no math prerequisites--just an open mind and curiousity about the subject. Beyond Numeracy along with Paulos other title, Innumeracy, bring some sophisticated concepts that apply to all our lives into easy reach. Not to mention that it makes for some great cocktail conversation as well.
Comment Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
Thank you for your feedback.
Sorry, we failed to record your vote. Please try again
Report abuse

Most Recent Customer Reviews

Five Stars

JAP is a god among men - read everything you can of his,

Published 2 months ago by R. Morris
Five Stars

Only someone who has the math understanding that J. A. Paulos posses could write such an illuminating book.

Published 15 months ago by Nelson Howell
*Snoring* ...*Wakes Up* Say What..? *Back to Snoring*

Read: 6/12
Rate: 1/5

6/12: Beyond Numeracy is what I call a "snooze fest." It's so tedious that it took me a couple of months to finish reading... Read more

Published on June 28, 2012 by Mr. Math Expert
Fairly Interesting

Pretty good book. It gives a good overview of the major concepts of mathematics and it helped me to understand more the historical oontext of those concepts.

Published on February 16, 2011 by Cardy
Encyclopedic knowledge on mathematical topics

The book consists of short articles on key mathematical topics. The best articles are the ones really focused on mathematical or geometrical topics, especially the ones where he... Read more

Published on August 10, 2008 by A. Panda
A good starter on some of the more esoteric topics of math

But you can save your money by only buying a used version of this book.

But how many people do you think are going to be interested in what are quadratic equations if... Read more

Published on January 23, 2005 by Lemas Mitchell
Good for those with interest in math to start

I thought this a good book that showed how math is valuable in the real world. The author tries to avoid reading like a text book to try and make math come alive. Read more

Published on February 23, 2002 by Ronald Brown

Set up an Amazon Giveaway

Amazon Giveaway allows you to run promotional giveaways in order to create buzz, reward your audience, and attract new followers and customers. Learn more
Beyond Numeracy
This item: Beyond Numeracy
Price: $14.52
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com
Set up a giveaway

There's a problem loading this menu right now.

Learn more about Amazon Prime.



Want to discover more products? Check out this page to see more: once beyond a time