James D. Stein
Auteur van How Math Explains the World: A Guide to the Power of Numbers, from Car Repair to Modern Physics
Over de Auteur
Werken van James D. Stein
How Math Explains the World: A Guide to the Power of Numbers, from Car Repair to Modern Physics (2008) 120 exemplaren
The right decision : a mathematician reveals how the secrets of decision theory can help you make the right decision… (1899) 29 exemplaren
How to Shoot from the Hip Without Getting Shot in the Foot: Making Smart Strategic Choices Every Day (1990) 5 exemplaren
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Algemene kennis
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How Math Can Save Your Life: (And Make You Rich,… door James D. Stein
A good book to show students that math can be used to help keep them alive, and to show how it can be applied in the real world
Although this is full of interesting facts, one has to search for them - it's not written very well. Some of the unusual and fascinating aspects of some of the numbers/constants spoken of get lost because of this. I got bored quickly, even though the subject of the book is of considerable interest to me.
James D. Stein is a professor of mathematics at California State University at Long Beach and a very lucid popularizer of the subject. His latest book acquaints us non-mathematicians with a selection of illustrations of how math enables us to better understand the world and, in some instances, why certain problems are inherently unsolvable. Despite the subtitle, the book has very little to say about car repair; a fair amount to impart about modern physics; and a great deal to share about a few topics you might not expect to involve mathematics.
Despite the subject matter, the book is not replete with equations. I found the most equation-intense chapter of the book (dealing with the general solution to cubic and quartic polynomials) to be fascinating, but not all readers will share my enthusiasm for this topic. As a rule, the author prefers (where possible) tables and arrays rather than equations to make his points. And at least for a fleeting moment, you will think you understand the concept of entropy and the second law of thermodynamics.
Highly recommended for the non-mathematician who wants a taste of what math pros do for a living.
(JAB)… (meer)
Despite the subject matter, the book is not replete with equations. I found the most equation-intense chapter of the book (dealing with the general solution to cubic and quartic polynomials) to be fascinating, but not all readers will share my enthusiasm for this topic. As a rule, the author prefers (where possible) tables and arrays rather than equations to make his points. And at least for a fleeting moment, you will think you understand the concept of entropy and the second law of thermodynamics.
Highly recommended for the non-mathematician who wants a taste of what math pros do for a living.
(JAB)… (meer)
A mathematician's short and patchy, sometimes folksy and personal, history of physical science. Perhaps his idea was that being less than an expert in the subject matter was a good qualification for authorship. The writing is accurate enough, but there are places where the complete lack of diagrams becomes a drawback and places where the lapses into non-metric units become annoying.
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Statistieken
- Werken
- 13
- Leden
- 302
- Populariteit
- #77,842
- Waardering
- 3.0
- Besprekingen
- 6
- ISBNs
- 28
- Talen
- 6