The Heart of Mathematics: An invitation to effective thinking

by Edward B. Burger, Michael Starbird

The Heart of Mathematics addresses the big ideas of mathematics (many of which are cutting edge research topics) in a non-computational style intended to be both read and enjoyed by students and instructors, as well as by motivated general readers. It features an engaging, lively, humorous style full of surprises, games, mind-benders, and all without either sacrificing good mathematical thought or relying on mathematical computation or symbols. The authors are award-winning authors, holding awards such Distinguished Teaching Award (Burger, from the Mathematical Association of America); Chauvenet Prize (the best expository mathematics writer in the world, Burger, from the MAA) and many others.

Genres: Mathematics, Nonfiction, Science, Education

784 pages, Hardcover

First published October 29, 1999

Reviews

[Susmit Islam · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another of my fav books on math that I've read this year. Assuming a minimal set of prerequisites (probably just that you know English and know how to count), this book introduces you to a variety of topics ranging from number theory, 2D and 3D geometry, topology, to chaos theory, probability and statistics, and more importantly, HOW THEY RELATE AND APPLY TO THE REAL WORLD. The complexity is fairly minimal; they emphasize more on making you think better and having fun during the process rather than making you manipulate complicated notation and jargon. The chapters are all more or less self-contained, so you can pick and start from a chapter that suits your tastes.

(A word of warning though - it's a huge book, nearly a thousand pages long. Took me nearly 11 months to finish it. 8, perhaps, if you exclude the days I didn't read it.)

[Katelyn Bolds · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book in my college math class. It is very simplistic and some of the jokes are horrendous. But, for a math book, it is quite enjoyable. It points out all of the creative and enjoyable parts of mathematics rather than the scary algebraic and calculus-y parts.

[Eventure Sf]

I especially like the fibonacci number and golden rectangle.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hate math and I cannot believe I made myself read this for "fun." It is better than a regular math textbook but also it is still trying to teach me math, and for that I must resent it.

I did like the bits. E.g., the phrase "since the author is not actually a perfect cylinder" accompanied by a diagram of the author as a perfect cylinder. Those were good.

This is really a 3/5 review because as aforementioned, I hate math, but I'm giving the authors an extra star for effort.

[Rebecca Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concise, interesting, visual, and accessible to the layperson.
Previous experience with calculus not necessary.

[Mgrdich Minasian · Rating 4 out of 5]

an amazing recreational mathematics textbooks that let you see the beauty of everyday mathematics starting form different branches of mathematics and the story behind their creation pr discovery.

[Nikyila Shannon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this for a math course. I didn’t really like it that much. It didn’t keep me interested in math.

[Ashley Lambert-Maberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure who the audience for the book is: it's large, looks like a textbook, and perhaps fits into some curriculum somewhere, but didn't make for good casual reading for me personally. It began with a set of problems that were related to math but that didn't bonk you on the head with their mathiness, and I tried all of them except for the tying-my-ankles-together-and-inverting-my-pants problem (real example). Most of these I'd encountered before.

But the beginning got a little weary fast. Characters would be suddenly proposed, with complications rules for their behaviour. They'd have punny names. I can't help but try to keep track of them. It's easy for math to abstract: I'd far rather think "3 people have to share 9 slices equally" because that's almost 9/3, then have to think "Madame DuPoivre has brought pie to the part. Her good friends Pierre Pressure, Yvonne deBealone, and Mimi Mi adored Madadme's pie," and so forth, made worse when the problem itself is complicated.

(And once I didn't agree with their solution!)

I was exhausted by the end of the second chapter, but this is also my fault, it's obviously not That Kind of Book. If I'm looking for a little light reading, I shouldn't pick up the 3rd Edition of the Preston Guide to Dishwasher Repair.

So I'm back to Here's Looking at Euclid which is more of a book kind of book.

Read more of my ramblings at my blog The Wunsapon.

[Note: 5 star = loved it | 4 star = liked it lots | 3 star = it was fine | 2 star = disappointing | 1 star = hated it]

[Sss Book]

6 of 6

[Donna Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty enjoyable for a math book.