A mathematician reads the newspaper
by John Allen Paulos · first published 1995
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2013–2014first – last mentioned
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Employing the same fun-filled, user-friendly, and quirkily insightful approach that put Innumeracy on best-seller lists, Paulos now leads us through the pages of the daily newspaper, revealing the hidden mathematical angles of countless articles. From the Senate, the SATs, and sex to crime, celebrities, and cults, Paulos takes stories that may not seem to involve mathematics at all and demonstrates how mathematical naivete can put readers at a distinct disadvantage. Whether he's using chaos theory to puncture economic and environmental predictions, applying logic and self-reference to clari
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…low-tech systems that you use to handle them. For interesting/easy intros to why some math skills are important, look at Darrell Huff's "How to Lie With Statistics" or John Allen Paulos' "Innumeracy" (or "A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper"). I haven't read any of them, but I hear Petroski's books recommended. For a great short read that touches on architectural engineering, law, and ethics, look for Joe Morgenstern's "Fifty-Nine Story…
on “Ask HN: What are some good general technical books for teenagers?” ↗…I wanted to buy a book. I found plenty at £0.01 but the shipping was clearly listed at £2.whatever. This makes me much more likely to actually buy. (Incidentally the book was John Allen Paulos's "a mathematician reads the newspaper". A bargain at a few quid.)
on “Tell HN: Show me the damn shipping fee” ↗