Tag Archives: mathematics

A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines

A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines is a novel about the parallel lives of two of the 20th Century’s greatest mathematicians, Kurt Gödel and Alan Turing. Through fictionalized accounts, it explores the power of genius, the price it sometimes exacts and the limitations of our ability to discover the truth. Continue reading

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Escape from Model Land

Have you ever noticed that when you buy something online they show you a bunch of other stuff under a heading like “you might also enjoy?” Obviously, the retailer is trying to get you to spend more money on their … Continue reading

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Infinite Powers

Okay, I admit it, even for me this is a geeky book.  Infinite Powers:  How Calculus Reveals the Secrets of the Universe is about the history of calculus and its impact on science, technology, and society.  Infinite Powers:How Calculus Reveals … Continue reading

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Book Review: What If

What IfBy Randall MunroeHoughton Mifflin Harcourt, New York, 2014 I’m a big fan of xkcd, so when I saw this book by Randall Munroe, its creator, my instant reaction was “must have.” What If: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical … Continue reading

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Book Review: Infinitesimal

InfinitesimalBy Amir AlexanderScientific American/Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 2014 Amir Alexander proves there is no subject too small to write a book about. Infinitesimal: How a Dangerous Mathematical Theory Shaped the Modern World is about the mathematics of the … Continue reading

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Book Review: Love and Math

Love and MathBy Edward FrenkelBasic Books, New York, NY, 2013 You’ve probably seen those late night TV ads for Zumba or P90X or a dozen other fitness programs. Ever notice how everyone in those ads already looks slim, sculpted & … Continue reading

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Book Review: 17 Equations That Changed the World

In Pursuit of the Unknown:  17 Equations That Changed the WorldBy Ian StewartBasic Books, New York, 2012 17 Equations That Changed the World:  It’s a greatest hits collection!  17 of your all-time favorite equations from the worlds of mathematics, physics … Continue reading

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