Infinity: Beyond the Beyond the Beyond

by Lillian R. Lieber, Hugh Gray Lieber (Illustrator)

“Another excellent book for the lay reader of mathematics . . . In explaining [infinity], the author introduces the reader to a good many other mathematical terms and concepts that seem unintelligible in a formal text but are much less formidable when presented in the author’s individual and very readable style.”—Library Journal

“The interpolations tying mathematics into human life and thought are brilliantly clear.”—Booklist

“Mrs. Lieber, in this text illustrated by her husband, Hugh Gray Lieber, has tackled the formidable task of explaining infinity in simple terms, in short line, short sentence technique popularized by her in The Education of T.C. MITS.”—Chicago Sunday Tribune

Infinity, another delightful mathematics book from the creators of The Education of T.C. MITS, offers an entertaining, yet thorough, explanation of the concept of, yes, infinity. Accessible to non-mathematicians, this book also cleverly connects mathematical reasoning to larger issues in society. The new foreword by Harvard mathematics professor Barry Mazur is a tribute to the Liebers’ influence on generations of mathematicians.

Lillian Lieber was a professor and head of the Department of Mathematics at Long Island University. She wrote a series of light-hearted (and well-respected) math books, many of them illustrated by her husband.

Barry Mazur is the Gerhard Gade University Professor of Mathematics at Harvard University and is the author of Imagining Numbers.

Genres: Mathematics, Nonfiction, Science, Womens

359 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1961

Reviews

[Lindsey]

What I read of this book, I enjoyed. I was not able to finish it before it was due back to the library, though. I hope to try again sometime.

I would not call myself a mathematical thinker, and I struggled with math in high school. Now I realize that I sort of "bought" the notion that I'm "not a math person." This book seems to be written to help adults like me look at math concepts in a simple and creative manner, and helped me believe that I can actually learn these concepts. It is a hopeful notion!

[Jeff]

I like the style. It accomplishes it's purpose well, to make us think and ponder a matter to get the sense of it. I believe it is a book written by a true educator, a person interested in helping others to learn a subject while not being pained by it. It is a fun book, a thinkers book in my opinion.
My edition is the 1953 Hardcover.

[Hope]

I didn't follow all the math. I did love the writing style and the author's enthusiastic outlook :)

[Hanna Abi Akl]

A glowing encapsulation of mathematical concepts that come to life in this brimming read.

[Mykyta Kuzmenko]

Супер. Жаль только оригинальную книгу в этом издании урезали и явно видно что несколько глав выпали, но что есть пояснено очень хорошо. Ну и время не стоит на месте судя по всему по ряду открытых вопросов в книге уже есть ответы.