One, Two, Three...Infinity: Facts and Speculations of Science
by George Gamowpublished
September 1st 1988
(first published 1947)
by Dover Publications
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binding
Paperback, 352 pages
url
isbn
0486256642
(isbn13: 9780486256641)
description
Over 120 delightful pen-and-ink illustrations by the author add another dimension of good-natured charm to these wide-ranging explorations. A mind-exp...more
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Read in January, 1984
This is a great book, and Gammow is a genius. He's very good at explaining difficult concepts. This is an excellent math book, especially if you're interested in casual math reading and study. He explores much more than just math and numbers and goes on into the 4th dimension and also discusses time, space, and relativity.
The book was originally published in 1947, revised in 1961, and the one I read was a reprint of the 1961 edition. Some great concepts never change, and Gammow covers ma...more
The book was originally published in 1947, revised in 1961, and the one I read was a reprint of the 1961 edition. Some great concepts never change, and Gammow covers ma...more
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Read in January, 1978
The information in this book is a bit dated, but the writing is still great. Gamow was a master of explanation - he had a real gift for clear presentation of complex topics. Before Asimov, Feynman, or Sagan - there was Gamow. If you want a good introduction to the concepts of 20th century physics, this is an excellent place to start.
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Read in May, 2008
This was given as a present with some very thoughtful intentions. Unlike "Zero: A Biography of a Dangerous Idea", this book was written in almost sraight text-book format instead of any semblance of story. I'm all for reading manuals and other dry topics, but couldn't get through this one.
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Much of the math is speculative/disproven, but it was the book that taught me to love to read and learn. I give it 3 only because I'm guessing most people won't get too much out of it, but it was a life-changing book for me in that it was the right challenge at the right time.
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An oldie but a goodie. My first introduction to the wonders of topology, the fourth dimension, transfinite and imaginary numbers. Wow, what a trip!
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This one is off my currently reading list till further notice. Just not in the mood lately. Seems to be related to my recent purchase of a new motorcycle (reading a lot of 1994 Shadow service manuals dealing with how to chop, hot rod, or otherwise modify the bike).
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Read in January, 1969
There are more recent and more relevant introductions to science, but this one was a classic for its time. It introduced me, for example, to the concepts of quantitatively different infinities, which I hadn't contemplated previously.
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So I am a geek. Probably a much bigger geek then you are. Wanna fight? Gamow is a bonafide genius yet his books are accessible to the masses. If you have ever thought about reading a book about math ... this is it!
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Read in January, 1989
recommended to Balaji by:
My Fatherrecommends it for: All
This was my first real book that wasn't a school text book, an action comic or some teenage novel like Hardy Boys or one of Enid Blyton's works.
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