How Not to Be Wrong
The Power of Mathematical Thinking
by Jordan Ellenberg · first published 2014
83% recommend17% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Engaging popular-math book by a working mathematician that applies mathematical thinking to everyday problems, with chapters on Bayesian inference and the Baltimore stockbroker fraud. Suits math-wary readers.
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A wonderful account of this is given in Ellenberg's "How Not to Be Wrong": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Not_to_Be_Wrong I highly recommend the book; it is a popular mathematics book, written by a real mathematician, discussing some real mathematics, with an engaging…
on “Couple wins millions using lottery loophole” ↗#2 is called this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffon%27s_needle. This is also mentioned in Jordan Ellenberg's book How Not to Be Wrong, and has a similar passage with your explanation above. I mention the book as much because it's a great read.
on “Cylinders in Spheres” ↗There is a fun chapter on this topic in Jordan Ellenberg's latest book "How not to be wrong". It's called the "Baltimore stockbroker fraud".
on “MIT computer scientists can predict the price of Bitcoin” ↗…understand for math haters. It was pretty awesome. To me, math is the new door to the new world. I started reading books about math and related field like Physics. (Thinking in numbers by Denial Tammet, How Not to Be Wrong by Jordan Ellenberg. Cosmic Numbers: The Numbers That Define Our Universe by James D. Stein, Richard Feynman and etc. I think you get this, stay curious, stay open to learn. Hope this help and good luck!…
on “Ask HN: How can I learn math?” ↗I highly recommend Ellenberg's "How Not To Be Wrong". Ellenberg is a first-class mathematician and general expositor, and his book illustrates the power (and the limitation, in an endearing way) of mathematics as a tool of thought.
on “Abraham Wald and the Missing Bullet Holes” ↗Let me propose another theory. In the awesome book "How not to be wrong" ellenberg walks through a scenario with dishonest roulette machines as a way to explain Bayesian Inference and shows how powerful your priori are in interpreting new evidence that you are shown. If you…
on “Why Are the Highly Educated So Liberal? (2016)” ↗I know that specific story from the book "How not to be wrong", by Jordan Ellenberg. It was nice to read it from a different angle in this article
on “The Lottery Hackers” ↗…https://marksaroufim.medium.com/technical-books-i-%EF%B8%8F-... I can recommend this book for you to read right now- 1. The Joy of X: A Guided Tour of Mathematics from Zero Infinity by Steven Strogatz. A truly remarkable book. 2. How Not to Be Wrong: The Hidden Maths of Everyday Life by Jordan Ellenberg. YouTube videos from 3blue1brown and Numberphile also increased my love for Maths. Edit: I read some chapters from Alex Bello's Alex's Adventures…
on “Ask HN: Books that made you fascinated to learn more mathematics?” ↗"How not to be wrong" by Ellenberg. Use mathematical thinking to solve everyday problems.
on “Ask HN: Which books have made you a better thinker and problem solver?” ↗…books that jump to mind would be: - How Mathematicians Think by William Byers[3] - How to Think Like a Mathematician by Kevin Houston[4] - Discrete Mathematics with Applications[5] by Susanna Epp - How Not To Be Wrong[6] by Jordan Ellenberg [1]: https://www.amazon.com/Universe-Speaks-Numbers-Reveals-Natur... [2]: https://www.amazon.com/Lost-Math-Beauty-Physics-Astray/dp/15... [3]: https://www.amazon.com/How-Mathematicians-Think-Contradictio...…
on “Ask HN: Math books that made you significantly better at math?” ↗Jordan Ellenberg's "How not to be wrong". Recommended even for non teenagers.
on “Ask HN: Recommend a maths book for a teenager?” ↗How Not To Be Wrong by Jordan Ellenburg
on “Ask HN: Which books have made you a better thinker and problem solver?” ↗How not to be wrong
on “Ask HN: Casual Math Book Suggestions” ↗I'm looking for interesting books about new ideas and concepts. Share your favorite books here. One of my favorites is How Not to Be Wrong by Jordan Ellenbreg (https://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Be-Wrong-Mathematical/dp/0143127535)
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite books?” ↗…ways that will make you a better thinker, and thus a better programmer. The books I've found particularly good on audio are: * Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance * Thinking, Fast and Slow * How Not to be Wrong * Ready Player One * Neuromancer
on “Ask HN: What audio resources can improve my technical skills during my commute?” ↗