Like masterpieces of art, music, and literature, great mathematical theorems are creative milestones, works of genius destined to last forever. Now William Dunham gives them the attention they deserve. Dunham places each theorem within its historical context and explores the very human and often turbulent life of the creator -- from Archimedes, the absentminded theoretician whose absorption in his work often precluded eating or bathing, to Gerolamo Cardano, the sixteenth-century mathematician whose accomplishments ...
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Like masterpieces of art, music, and literature, great mathematical theorems are creative milestones, works of genius destined to last forever. Now William Dunham gives them the attention they deserve. Dunham places each theorem within its historical context and explores the very human and often turbulent life of the creator -- from Archimedes, the absentminded theoretician whose absorption in his work often precluded eating or bathing, to Gerolamo Cardano, the sixteenth-century mathematician whose accomplishments flourished despite a bizarre array of misadventures, to the paranoid genius of modern times, Georg Cantor. He also provides step-by-step proofs for the theorems, each easily accessible to readers with no more than a knowledge of high school mathematics. A rare combination of the historical, biographical, and mathematical, Journey Through Genius is a fascinating introduction to a neglected field of human creativity. "It is mathematics presented as a series of works of art; a fascinating lingering over individual examples of ingenuity and insight. It is mathematics by lightning flash." --Isaac Asimov
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Add this copy of Journey Through Genius: the Great Theorems of to cart. $1.85, good condition, Sold by The Maryland Book Bank rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from baltimore, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1991 by Penguin Books.
Add this copy of Journey Through Genius: the Great Theorems of to cart. $1.85, very good condition, Sold by More Than Words rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Waltham, MA, UNITED STATES, published 1991 by Penguin Books.
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Add this copy of Journey Through Genius: the Great Theorems of to cart. $1.86, fair condition, Sold by Goodwill rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brooklyn Park, MN, UNITED STATES, published 1991 by Penguin Books.
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Fair. Cover/ Case does NOT match photos; some content may vary from version shown Cover/Case has some rubbing and edgewear. Access codes, CD's, slipcovers and other accessories may not be included.
Add this copy of Journey Through Genius: the Great Theorems of to cart. $1.99, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brownstown, MI, UNITED STATES, published 1991 by Penguin Books.
Add this copy of Journey Through Genius: the Great Theorems of to cart. $1.99, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brownstown, MI, UNITED STATES, published 1991 by Penguin Books.
Add this copy of Journey Through Genius: the Great Theorems of to cart. $1.99, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 1991 by Penguin Books.
Add this copy of Journey Through Genius: the Great Theorems of to cart. $1.99, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1991 by Penguin Books.
Add this copy of Journey Through Genius: the Great Theorems of to cart. $1.99, fair condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 1991 by Penguin Books.
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Add this copy of Journey Through Genius: the Great Theorems of to cart. $2.16, good condition, Sold by Blue Vase Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Interlochen, MI, UNITED STATES, published 1991 by Penguin Books.
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The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.
I've just finished the first chapter... a treasure! The exposition was perfect for recreational reading but with satisfying rigor in the presentation of the proofs. I look forward to reading the rest of the book. I may write more after I finish the book. But so far I can say it is a must read for anyone who wants to solidify their grounding in mathematics. I wish I had read this during high school!
MikeMcGarry
Apr 1, 2007
Brilliant Math for Everyone!
As Dunham points out, most of the great works of art are readily available to anyone. Anyone can listen to a Beethoven symphony or see the Mona Lisa. The truly beautiful theorems of mathematics, though, are considered arcana, and are little know by even the most intelligent folks in other fields. With this book, Dunham is attempting to "democratize" the great math theorems. He has chosen ten theorems which he considered (rightly) some of the most beautiful, most elegant, of all time. Assuming the reader has no more than an Algebra Two level of expertise with math, he leads the way step by step through each theorem, so the reader can have the thrill of enjoying the mathematical "aha!" at core of these theorems. He fleshes out each with some biographical data about the mathematiciam involved, and does a good job explaining each theorem's antecedents and consequences in the history of math. For any intelligent reader who doesn't mind a little algebraic thinking and who, after many year's hiatus, really wants to understand what is amazing about the discipline of mathematics, I do not think a better book than this exists. Furthermore, for folks in technical fields who are unfamiliar with the history of math, this is a wonderful playground to which you will return time and time again.
