“The evolution of science, philosophy, and mathematics, all related, is far more important to the history of humanity than a parade of rulers and a procession of wars.” Strong words, but Richard Mankiewicz comes mighty close to backing them up in his fascinating book, The Story of Mathematics.
Divided into brief chapters, the book traces the development of mathematics from a baboon’s fibula with 29 clearly visible notches (from Swaziland, circa 35,000 B.C.) to the Babylonian sexagesimal–or base 60–number system, which survives to this day in our method of timekeeping, to Euclid’s Elements, described as “the most important textbook of all time,” to fractals and other Mandelbrot sets. Along the way, Mankiewicz pays tribute to the men and women at the forefront of mathematics, though he’s not afraid to dispel some myths: the Pythagorean theorem was widely known in antiquity before Pythagoras was even born, and a 14th-century Chinese manuscript clearly depicts what is now known as “Pascal’s Triangle,” a good three centuries before Pascal was born. Most entertaining are the chapters on practical applications of mathematics: astronomy, codemaking and -breaking, military strategy, modern art, and navigation.
At times, it is difficult to follow the actual complex mathematics, but the vast majority of the book is readily accessible to the general reader. Filled with beautiful illustrations taken from ancient papyri, medieval manuscripts, scientific instruments, Renaissance painting, and computer-generated art, The Story of Mathematics is a singularly handsome volume and a pleasure to read. –Sunny Delaney
Too often reduced to a catalog of formulas and numbers, or axioms and proofs, mathematics here receives the multifaceted treatment it deserves. In a text laced with beautiful illustrations and piquant anecdotes, Mankiewicz traces the rise of this profoundly human pursuit, from its earliest stirrings among tribal peoples using tally sticks to the latest speculations of theorists deploying multiphase computers. No mere diversion for specialists, mathematics here emerges as an essential tool for astronomers, a vital inspiration to artists, and a reliable guide to policymakers. The magic of numbers has enchanted Michelangelo and Blake, as well as Pythagoras and Einstein. In recent decades, mathematics may even deserve credit for averting Armageddon by confronting national leaders with sophisticated game theories demonstrating the futility of nuclear war. Inevitably, some episodes will mystify the uninitiated. (Four-dimensional fractals?) But no book could do more to draw general readers into an enterprise of unexpected splendors and surprising possibilities. Bryce Christensen
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
“Mankiewicz spins engaging yarns about topics that range from ancient Chinese theorems to computer age fractals in this gorgeously illustrated history. Surprisingly lucid explanations of the most complex computations make this a perfect gift for both math-philes and math-phobes.” ― Discover
“For personal reading and for enrichment . . . this book is great! Visually, conceptually, and textually, it draws the reader into a better understanding and appreciation of the history of mathematics. . . . Although the text is succinct, many instances in the narrative offer more insights into the development of mathematics than are found in many bulky volumes on the history of mathematics. . . . Mankiewicz’s anecdotes and examples are well chosen to fascinate and stimulate the reader.”
—Frank J. Swetz, Mathematics Teacher
Review
“This book does read like a story. Beginning with the earliest traces of numerical recordings on animal bones, the author presents the genesis and evolution of mathematical ideas and their applications through the centuries. The pace is brisk, but the treatment is never superficial and it consistently remains highly accessible. . . . Mathematics is presented―as it should be―as a truly human enterprise that cuts across cultural borders.”―Arturo Sangalli, author of The Importance of Being Fuzzy
From the Inside Flap
“This book does read like a story. Beginning with the earliest traces of numerical recordings on animal bones, the author presents the genesis and evolution of mathematical ideas and their applications through the centuries. The pace is brisk, but the treatment is never superficial and it consistently remains highly accessible. . . . Mathematics is presented–as it should be–as a truly human enterprise that cuts across cultural borders.”–Arturo Sangalli, author of The Importance of Being Fuzzy
From the Back Cover
“This book does read like a story. Beginning with the earliest traces of numerical recordings on animal bones, the author presents the genesis and evolution of mathematical ideas and their applications through the centuries. The pace is brisk, but the treatment is never superficial and it consistently remains highly accessible. . . . Mathematics is presented–as it should be–as a truly human enterprise that cuts across cultural borders.”–Arturo Sangalli, author ofThe Importance of Being Fuzzy
About the Author
Richard Mankiewicz is currently a lecturer at Peterborough Regional College. He is a contributing author to The Science Book (Cassell) as well as the author of many articles on mathematics, art, and culture.
