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Mathematics: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) [Kindle Edition]

Timothy Gowers (Author)

4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews) |

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Length: 168 pages
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Product Description

The aim of this book is to explain, carefully but not technically, the differences between advanced, research-level mathematics, and the sort of mathematics we learn at school. The most fundamental differences are philosophical, and readers of this book will emerge with a clearer understanding of paradoxical-sounding concepts such as infinity, curved space, and imaginary numbers. The first few chapters are about general aspects of mathematical thought. These are followed by
discussions of more specific topics, and the book closes with a chapter answering common sociological questions about the mathematical community (such as "Is it true that mathematicians burn out at the age of 25?")

About the Author

Timothy Gowers is Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University and was a recipient of a Fields Medal for Mathematics in 1998, awarded for 'the most daring, profound and stimulating research done by young mathematicians'.

Product details

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 1022 KB
Print Length: 168 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0192853619
Publisher: OUP Oxford (23 July 2002)
Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.� r.l.
Language English
ASIN: B000SEP2T2
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #36,599 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #59 in Kindle Store > Books > Nonfiction > Science > Mathematics

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18 reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful

Clear and concise overview of mathematical concepts 29 April 2003

By "simonstrong"

Format:Paperback

Professor Gowers explains the key concepts of mathematics in this accessible and well-constructed book. Written for a general audience (although some basic scientific knowledge is an advantage), this book avoids the popularisation of mathematics, but instead focuses instead on the central ideas of abstraction and axiomisation which underpin all of modern mathematics.

After an introductory chapter on mathematical models in the sciences, Professor Gowers covers topics including numbers, limits, dimension and approximation in six short chapters. A final chapter gives thought-provoking answers to questions such as what are the connections between mathematics and music, and what is beauty in mathematics. The format inevitably means that some topics are omitted due to lack of space - there is little background on the history of mathematics for example - but that does not detract from the central theme of the book.

Professor Gowers' enthusiasm for his subject comes across on every page.

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17 of 18 people found the following review helpful

Fascinating 23 Dec 2003

By Richard Taylor

Format:Paperback

I have bought several books in the "Very Short Introduction..." series all of which have been excellent and this one in particular is extremely clear and interesting. The book is aimed at the intelligent layperson and gives a general introduction to what maths really is and how professional mathematicians think about it. This approach is in contrast to most people's experience in school where tedious and repetitive calculation is the norm (which is a real shame). Various areas in maths are looked at and the ideas behind them are explained rather than the reader being hit with big formulae and funny looking symbols.

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29 of 32 people found the following review helpful

Insightful, Lucid, and Thought-Provoking 30 Sep 2002

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

It is amazing how Tim Gowers, one of the greatest mathematicians
of our time, managed to convey the spirit and content of math to the general reader, and not only. Even professional mathematicians will learn a lot from his insightful remarks.
This ``little'' book is destined to become a classic of popular
science writing.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Excellent

An eye-opening view into mathematics. I was worried at first that I wouldn't understand it as I found maths very boring in school, but Gowers gives lucid, clear and stimulating... Read more

Published 4 months ago by Ms. Anya C. Martin

Superb introduction

Timothy Gowers has written a very readable and engaging introduction to mathematics covering a surprisingly broad range of topics considering the space limitations of the format... Read more

Published 6 months ago by D. Buick

very good explanation of mathematical principles

This book is well written and provides a good explanation of mathematical axioms, through an analysis of their basic meaning. Read more

Published 10 months ago by Mr. Robert Marsland

The best introduction to math out there

The world of mathematics elicits many different emotions, from fear to reverence, from apprehension to fascination. Read more

Published 13 months ago by Dr. Bojan Tunguz

A good take on the subject

It's well known that some concepts in mathematics can be utterly mind-bending - concepts such as curved space, higher dimensional geometry, infinity, and more besides. Read more

Published 17 months ago by Steve M

A useful guide

considering the limited space, it is a 'very short introduction' after all, the author does a good job of guiding the reader through some of the fundamental areas and practices of... Read more

Published 18 months ago by GJ_Reading

Review

This is an excellent book for people with some mathematical understanding. I would say it is perfect for sixth form students studying mathematics.

Published 19 months ago by Mr. Peter J. Halliwell

Great bordom buster

This book is very good. It is the perfect size for putting in a bag and carrying with you for those moments of boredom. Read more

Published 21 months ago by Rachel

Philosophy of mathematics

I believe in van Frassen, Nancy Cartwright, Ronald Gere, Frederick Suppes and the rest of the group that believes science is theory and models; theory being mathematical equations... Read more

Published 21 months ago by A reader

stimulating

I'm a biologist myself and failed horribly at math when I was in school. I wanted to learn more about the mindset of the mathematician and this book was perfect. Read more

Published 24 months ago by M. Tummers

Popular Highlights

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Mathematicians do not apply scientific theories directly to the world but rather to models. A model in this sense can be thought of as an imaginary, simplified version of the part of the world being studied, one in which exact calculations are possible. &quote;

Highlighted by 33 Kindle users

decide what level of accuracy you need, and then try to achieve it as simply as possible. &quote;

Highlighted by 31 Kindle users

When devising a model, one tries to ignore as much as possible about the phenomenon under consideration, abstracting from it only those features that are essential to understanding its behaviour. &quote;

Highlighted by 23 Kindle users

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