The Mathematical Universe
An Alphabetical Journey Through the Great Proofs, Problems, and Personalities
by William Dunham · first published 1994
75% recommend25% neutral
From the simple elegance of the Pythagorean theorem to the looking-glass world of Russell's Paradox and the summed infinities of integral calculus, experience the beauty and majesty of the mathematical universe. William Dunham, author of the popular Journey Through Genius, will give you a rare sampling of its joys. Writing in his trademark razor-sharp style, Dunham introduces a tantalizing selection of the great proofs, notorious disputes, and intriguing unsolved mysteries. Subjects range from the golden age of Greek geometry to the furthest frontier of infinite series. In chapters spanning t
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…Mathematics and Its History (John Stillwell) - Journey through Genius: The Great Theorems of Mathematics (William Dunham) - Proofs Without Words: Exercises in Visual Thinking (Roger B. Nelsen) - The Mathematical Universe: An Alphabetical Journey Through the Great Proofs, Problems, and Personalities (William Dunham) - Odds & Ends: Introducing Probability & Decision with a Visual Emphasis (Jonathan Weisberg) - Introduction…
on “Ask HN: Serious mathematics books that can replace a good teacher?” ↗…is rather tedious. That could either be a more high-level book like Ian Stewart's "From Here to Infinity" or one of Raymond Smullyan's fun texts on logic. Or for a more basic book, something like "The Mathematical Universe" by William W. Dunham is a much more interesting introduction to the "art" of mathematics than a textbook-style intro.
on “A Gentle Introduction to the Art of Mathematics” ↗…can recommend the following: John Derbyshire's Unknown Quantity - A real and imaginary history of algebra David Well's The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers William Dunham's The Mathematical Universe - An Alphabetical Journey Through the Great Proofs, Problems and Personalities Alex Bello's Alex's Adventures in The Numberland - Dispatches from the wonderful world of mathematics
on “Ask HN: Books that made you fascinated to learn more mathematics?” ↗William Dunham's "The Mathematical Universe" was already mentioned but I actually came to suggest his earlier work "Journey Through Genius".
on “Ask HN: Books that made you fascinated to learn more mathematics?” ↗