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· 460 ratings · 27 reviews

Start your review of The Mathematical Universe: An Alphabetical Journey Through the Great Proofs, Problems, and Personalities

Jan 19, 2018 Dimitrios rated it it was amazing

I really liked it, but i'm biased. When it comes to history of mathematics presented in an easy and fun to follow manner, i'm a sucker. The level of the book is not terribly high. Some parts require only to be aware of some ideas, others some familiarity with basic high school mathematics and some to have some previous experience. The most requiring subject to understand was differential and integral calculus to give you an idea. The contents include a lot of mathematical ideas, how they evolved I really liked it, but i'm biased. When it comes to history of mathematics presented in an easy and fun to follow manner, i'm a sucker. The level of the book is not terribly high. Some parts require only to be aware of some ideas, others some familiarity with basic high school mathematics and some to have some previous experience. The most requiring subject to understand was differential and integral calculus to give you an idea. The contents include a lot of mathematical ideas, how they evolved, interesting stories about great mathematicians, interesting proofs. I highly recommend it ...more

May 29, 2018 Sohum rated it really liked it

William Dunham's non-fiction book, The Mathematical Universe, is an enthralling book which takes readers on a journey through some of the most popular algebraic and geometric proofs, such as Runges Theorem and proving the value of pi. Despite its title and subject, the book was unexpectedly interesting as Dunham found a way to connect or relate these concepts of thought to any scholar's standard education. For instance, when discussing the differentiation of integrals, Dunham some how managed to William Dunham's non-fiction book, The Mathematical Universe, is an enthralling book which takes readers on a journey through some of the most popular algebraic and geometric proofs, such as Runges Theorem and proving the value of pi. Despite its title and subject, the book was unexpectedly interesting as Dunham found a way to connect or relate these concepts of thought to any scholar's standard education. For instance, when discussing the differentiation of integrals, Dunham some how managed to relate the calculus involved in this process to basic polynomial fundamentals, which any educated middle-schooler should have knowledge of. In essence, Dunham has found a way to put complicated math concepts in terms in which even those with the most basic of educational backgrounds can understand, thereby expanding the range of the book's audience. However, when I checked this book out from my school's library, I had noticed that it had been untouched for an extended period of time, which was expected. Students would not often find this book interesting as they may not have a vested interest in mathematics, which is a recurring pattern with most students. Dunham, however still attempts to draw the attention of young students by placing comic strips or puns in his book, so that it may appeal to a younger audience. The most striking characteristic of this book was not the fact that it covered such wide branches of mathematics in a small amount of pages, but the fact that it placed it in terms in which any student could comprehend such concepts without being hindered by their lack of knowledge in mathematics when compared to college graduate. ...more

Jun 30, 2019 Ashar Malik rated it it was amazing

A very consice introduction to the mathematical world. Reads great. Definitely a must read.

Jan 26, 2013 David rated it really liked it

A solid, clear overview of mathematics, both simple and advanced. For anyone who wants a grounding in general math topics, this seems just about perfect. For someone who wants a more organized system, this will disappoint you (he jumps from topic to topic, based on the alphabet), and for someone like me who wants tougher questions answered ("what is Hilbert space?" "What is a Cauchy sequence?" etc.), this won't do much to help. But even though I realized it was the wrong book for my project, I k A solid, clear overview of mathematics, both simple and advanced. For anyone who wants a grounding in general math topics, this seems just about perfect. For someone who wants a more organized system, this will disappoint you (he jumps from topic to topic, based on the alphabet), and for someone like me who wants tougher questions answered ("what is Hilbert space?" "What is a Cauchy sequence?" etc.), this won't do much to help. But even though I realized it was the wrong book for my project, I kept reading it anyway because the author is clearly having so much fun. I'd heard that this was something of a classic, and now I know the reason. ...more

Oct 01, 2017 Raj Sharma rated it it was amazing

Most interesting popular Mathematics book. Parents of students wanting illustrious careers must read this book themselves and let their wards read it. This book can lay the path for young boys to become great mathematicians for the new world.

Oct 31, 2015 Jose Moa rated it really liked it

A understable book whith a background of high shool level;it is alphabeticlly ordered ,for example L for Leibnitz,E for Euler,D for diferential calculus ,P for prime number theorem and so on

Mar 30, 2021 Kelli rated it it was amazing

Maybe someone should revoke my ability to rate/review books now because I somehow LOVED THIS after fully expecting to hate it and find it boring after I bought it as a refresher on some math history.

It wasn't boring at all! I read this in less than 48 hours and could barely put it down. Even though it was written in the 1990s it didn't feel much outdated. The chapters were short enough to not feel intimidating and there were plenty of visual diagrams and pictures to help explain some of the con

Maybe someone should revoke my ability to rate/review books now because I somehow LOVED THIS after fully expecting to hate it and find it boring after I bought it as a refresher on some math history.

My favorite chapters were on the ancient beginnings of mathematics and reading through their logic and methods and all that was discovered before calculators and computers. However, one chapter was really, REALLY stupid- about how mathematicians typically look (bearded of course!) and dress (they don't care about fashion!) and their special sense of humour (are you kidding me????)- and it was insane they included this chapter enforcing stereotypes and later only a single chapter about women in mathematics .... yikes... and so in reality this is 4.5 stars rounded up.

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Nov 12, 2021 Bryce Beale rated it really liked it

This was an enjoyable and wandering read. It has been some time since I have touched mathematics, and this was just the sort of re-introduction I was looking for. Dunham somewhat artificially but also somewhat well attaches a concept from the practice or history of mathematics to each letter of the alphabet, which form the chapters of the book. This is a book that doesn't shy away from basic theorems in arithmetic, trigonometry, algebra, calculus, and number theory--there are lots of diagrams--b This was an enjoyable and wandering read. It has been some time since I have touched mathematics, and this was just the sort of re-introduction I was looking for. Dunham somewhat artificially but also somewhat well attaches a concept from the practice or history of mathematics to each letter of the alphabet, which form the chapters of the book. This is a book that doesn't shy away from basic theorems in arithmetic, trigonometry, algebra, calculus, and number theory--there are lots of diagrams--but that is also directed toward the non-professional. Plus, Dunham is a rather witty writer. I very much enjoyed thinking God's thoughts after him in regard to our mathematical universe. ...more

Fantástico libro de divulgación sobre matemáticas, que me gustó tanto como el anterior del mismo autor, Viaje a través de los genios. En el libro se narran hechos curiosos, hechos determinantes, pruebas de teoremas que cambian el rumbos de las matemáticas, y el autor no tiene miedo de meterse en harina con bastante frecuencia y soltarte unas cuantas ecuaciones para mostrarte de qué te habla en ese momento.
Un capítulo por letra del abecedario, todos ellos fascinantes. Fantástico libro de divulgación sobre matemáticas, que me gustó tanto como el anterior del mismo autor, Viaje a través de los genios. En el libro se narran hechos curiosos, hechos determinantes, pruebas de teoremas que cambian el rumbos de las matemáticas, y el autor no tiene miedo de meterse en harina con bastante frecuencia y soltarte unas cuantas ecuaciones para mostrarte de qué te habla en ese momento.
Un capítulo por letra del abecedario, todos ellos fascinantes. ...more

Nov 10, 2020 Petyr rated it it was amazing

An excellent general survey of Mathematics where the developments and meanings of its core concepts such as Euclidean and analytic geometry, Calculus, number theory, etc. are introduced in a casual and often humorous manner. Definitely a must-read for those who aspire to understand Math, not just merely "do" it.

Feb 03, 2021 Dan rated it it was amazing

Loved the book. The history of mathematics without reading like textbook. Style is straight forward and great for using as a survey-level reference.

Nov 24, 2019 Dick Harding rated it really liked it

I enjoyed this more than expected. It is a wide smattering of math and it's history. Some of the math seemed to be a bit beyond me but all in all I enoyed it.
I enjoyed this more than expected. It is a wide smattering of math and it's history. Some of the math seemed to be a bit beyond me but all in all I enoyed it.
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Oct 16, 2020 Dave rated it really liked it

A very interesting and accessable book for the general audience.

I liked the author's style - witty, but casual and disarming. The stories and analyses of the "background" behind histories and characters of mathematics fascinated me, but the mathematical ideas themselves were rather simple, most of it being at high-school level. I wish I had found this book a few years before, when these ideas were new to me. I liked the author's style - witty, but casual and disarming. The stories and analyses of the "background" behind histories and characters of mathematics fascinated me, but the mathematical ideas themselves were rather simple, most of it being at high-school level. I wish I had found this book a few years before, when these ideas were new to me. ...more

Because I couldn't write this for the work I had to do on it.
An alphabetised look on the whole of maths, as good as a work of fiction but with complicated maths as a storyline and 18th Century mathematicians as characters. Because I couldn't write this for the work I had to do on it.
An alphabetised look on the whole of maths, as good as a work of fiction but with complicated maths as a storyline and 18th Century mathematicians as characters. ...more

May 16, 2008 Scott rated it really liked it

A fascinating(and often humorous) look at the history of mathematics and the personalities involved in it's development. It's written to the non-mathematician, so don't let the subject matter dissuade you from reading it. Great book. A fascinating(and often humorous) look at the history of mathematics and the personalities involved in it's development. It's written to the non-mathematician, so don't let the subject matter dissuade you from reading it. Great book. ...more

May 27, 2009 Bonny rated it really liked it

This is a great book to introduce some of history's fascinating and lesser-known mathematicians. I read it primarily for some background on Euler, but also found interesting information about Newton, Liebniz and others. This is a great book to introduce some of history's fascinating and lesser-known mathematicians. I read it primarily for some background on Euler, but also found interesting information about Newton, Liebniz and others. ...more

Mar 04, 2010 Brett rated it really liked it

Dunham really has a gift at making mathematics readable. Fun stuff.

Sep 08, 2013 Jennifer rated it really liked it

Really enjoyable and enlightening book - does rather stretch a point or two on it's alphabetical nature but well put together Really enjoyable and enlightening book - does rather stretch a point or two on it's alphabetical nature but well put together ...more

Jan 23, 2017 John rated it really liked it

Entertaining walk through a Mathematical alphabet of mathematics and mathematicians. Dense material yet easy read.

Dec 04, 2007 Katie rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: Lesley :)

Total nerd book but I liked it. :)

An American writer who was originally trained in topology but became interested in the history of mathematics and specializes in Leonhard Euler. He has received several awards for writing and teaching on this subject.