Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences Kindle Edition

by John Allen Paulos (Author)

158 customer reviews

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Why do even well-educated people understand so little about mathematics? And what are the costs of our innumeracy? John Allen Paulos, in his celebrated bestseller first published in 1988, argues that our inability to deal rationally with very large numbers and the probabilities associated with them results in misinformed governmental policies, confused personal decisions, and an increased susceptibility to pseudoscience of all kinds. Innumeracy lets us know what we're missing, and how we can do something about it.

Sprinkling his discussion of numbers and probabilities with quirky stories and anecdotes, Paulos ranges freely over many aspects of modern life, from contested elections to sports stats, from stock scams and newspaper psychics to diet and medical claims, sex discrimination, insurance, lotteries, and drug testing. Readers of Innumeracy will be rewarded with scores of astonishing facts, a fistful of powerful ideas, and, most important, a clearer, more quantitative way of looking at their world.

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Product Details

File Size: 565 KB
Print Length: 209 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0809058405
Publisher: Hill and Wang; 1 edition (April 1, 2011)
Publication Date: April 1, 2011
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B0058U7HTO
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

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Lending: Not Enabled
Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #93,137 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #9 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Children's eBooks > Education & Reference > Reading & Writing
- #37 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Science > Mathematics > Applied > Probability & Statistics
- #39 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Children's Nonfiction > Reference

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Customer Reviews

158

4.1 out of 5 stars

5 star		46%
4 star		25%
3 star		21%
2 star		3%
1 star		5%

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Top Customer Reviews

GOOD ANALYSIS, GREAT ANECDOTES ABOUT THE VALUE OF NUMERACY

ByDenis Benchimol Minevon April 3, 2004

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

In this short book, Paulos does an outstanding job of pointing out what lack of number intimacy can do to a person. The anecdotes are outstanding, especially the ones on large numbers and on probability. For example, he shows how one is fooled by probability: If we have 23 people in a room, what is the probability that two of them have the same birthday? 50%!! Very conterintuitive.
The author also tries to understand why it is almost considered acceptable for a person to admit that one is "bad with numbers", while it not being ok to be "bad with words". The realm of psychology is not his forte, but the ideas he points to are interesting.
Overall, this is an easy to read book, much easier even to one literate with numbers. I was done with it in 3 hours, and was left wanting more, so much so that I am now buying some more of his works. If they are half as good as Innumeracy, then they will be good enough.

55 comments 85 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

lifting the shackles of cultural innumeracy

ByA. G. Plumbon February 15, 2001

Format: Paperback

I read this book several years ago and believe it to be a classic that would enhance any mathematics study course by making it topical and a part of the reader/student's everyday environment. What mathematics teaching needs is humanising - this book could go some way towards doing this.
This short review follows a review I have just written for 'I Think Therefore I Laugh' - another of Mr Paulos' books. Because I rate 'Innumeracy' so highly I decided to look at Customer Reviews for it, and found some clashed with my own assessment.
Some reviewrs are offended by Mr Paulos' perceived attitude towards the innumerate - believing that he is condescending in an off-putting way. I don't see it that way except inasmuch as we are all innumerate at some level and have to learn to become more numerate - just as a golfer has to learn to read the cut of the green if they want to be a good putter. And numeracy skills will certainly enhance the way we see the world and respond to its mysteries as Mr Paulos shows so cleary.

0Comment 50 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

interesting book, but lacking focus

ByNadyne Richmondon March 8, 2004

Format: Paperback

The problem that resulted in this book is far-reaching: the public simply doesn't understand mathematics. Statistics, ranging from a 10%-off sale to the sort found in opinion polls, are unfathomable to the general populace. Probability, especially in the context of gambling, is understood by only a scant handful of people. The list of misunderstood mathematics is nearly endless.
In the first few chapters of the book, Paulos describes various issues that the innumerate (that is, those who don't understand numbers and math) often have issues understanding. He describes the issue to a reasonable level of detail, then derives answers for them. Don't let the use of the word 'derive' scare you off: the answers are readable and readily understandable to a general audience. In some cases, if you're really rusty, you might need to read them a second time to grasp the solution.
Later chapters, however, are not written for the innumerate. They are attempts to convince the reader that mathematical education needs to be improved. I think that everyone agrees that education should be improved, but he offers suggestions that are impractical or nonsensical.
Ultimately, the problem of this book is a lack of focus. Paulos could have written either a book that tackles basic mathematical issues that the general public doesn't understand, or he could have written a book that describes the consequences of innumeracy. He tried to do both, and stuffed both topics into a single slim volume. In doing so, he shortchanges both audiences. The result is a book that is good, but does not fully address the needs of anyone.
If you find yourself uncomfortable with mathematics, pick up a copy of this book and read up to chapter five. If you are comfortable with mathematics and are looking for fodder to prove the point that improving mathematical knowledge at any level is productive, this book will not serve your purpose.

22 comments 106 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

a real classic, yet fun

ByA customeron June 7, 2000

Format: Paperback

After four years of college, I'm packing up and heading into the real world. One of the few books I'm keeping is Innumeracy. It was required reading when I was a freshman and again when I was a senior and I loved it even more the second time around. Few books lead you to an entirely new way of looking at the world and I, for one, would never think a math book would do that. It provided me with a more healthy way to think about chance, science, and even politics. A real classic that is fun to read. Paulos' wit makes the ride enjoyable all the way through.

0Comment 20 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

changed my way of thinking!

ByA customeron September 28, 1999

Format: Paperback

I had to read this for a class and groaned. But it is the only math book I've ever loved. It has attitude, is well-written, and changed my way of thinking about probability and the world. The wonderful examples don't depend on equations or formulas. Great book.

0Comment 14 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

An amusing book about numbers and people

ByJohnny Shapiroon February 11, 2001

Format: Paperback

I really enjoyed Innumeracy because of its content and because of the strange attitude the author exhibits to his target reader. While he gives the impression that he wrote this great little summary of basic maths for those with little grasp for numbers, one gets the impression that he has little concern for the feeble confidence of his would be disciples. Personally , I think it makes the book more entertaining as he casually tears pseudoscience apart , but not without pointing out grave concern for mankind given the amount of followers it has. The book itself is a livley course on practical mathematics and it is very interesting throughout. One particular anectode mentioned that i certainly wont forget is our inability to reject the hypothesis of immortality. A must read for both the numerate and inummerate although the latter will have to withstand a fair amount of not so sublte humiliation.

0Comment 11 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Engrossing, fascinating

ByA customeron January 19, 2001

Format: Paperback

Innumeracy was assigned in a psych class and I groaned inwardly. I was wrong. It is fun, smart, and has an attitude. I've never read a book like it and have found its ideas rattling around my head in all kinds of different situations. The importance of thinking in terms of probability is clearer to me now, and many of Paulos' clever examples help me think about a lot of issues that don't seem at all mathematical. The writing is killer witty too.

0Comment 15 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Most Recent Customer Reviews

Five Stars

Really great book - everyone should read.

Published 2 days ago by WEF

One Star

I hate math and this didn't change my mind.

Published 25 days ago by Amazon Customer

A great book for those with sharply mathematical minds

This is an informative book. It is well-written and interesting, but will appeal to the mathematically inclined most.Read more

Published 1 month ago by Tom the Tinker

Five Stars

this book got me interested in learning more about math and statistics

Published 2 months ago by Sam Sprague

Five Stars

Required reading for everybody

Published 3 months ago by robert knudsen

Could be much better

I like the idea of this book, but it just isn't very much fun to read. The math guy should have asked for assistance from a language guy to write this.

Published 3 months ago by Ursie

Some examples are simplified to a point they are no ...

Some examples are simplified to a point they are no longer accurate. A sub-par attempt, possibly for self-indulgent entertainment.

Published 5 months ago by Anastasia

Five Stars

Hummmmm Numbers.

Published 6 months ago by Amazon Customer

Five Stars

just what I thought it would be

Published 7 months ago by Coats Jewelers Repair

Read this or learn the hard way you are missing out on pertinent knowledge

This is one of those books that really needs to be read by everyone. I love it!

Published 7 months ago by Chaoticgenius

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