Are Numbers Real? by Brian Clegg
An in-depth but always fun exploration of the history of numbers and their applications in life and science. Brian Clegg shows how maths has become more and more detached from reality, despite driving the development of modern physics.
Praise for the author Writers who understand science but, at least as importantly, are gifted communicatorsGeorge Musser, and Brian Clegg, on this side of the pond, are two that spring to mind. - Literary ReviewHe still manages to surprise me with something new on every page. - Mail on SundayClegg's enthusiasm is catching, his science immaculate. - The Good Book GuideIn ARE NUMBERS REAL? Clegg tackles a very deep question in his usual way; with clarity, wit and a wonderfully clear narrative writing style. For me, numbers are like natural language: they obviously don't exist in a physical sense - you cannot trip over the number '2' in the street - yet numbers are at the heart of understanding the universe. Clegg covers a wide variety of subjects to seek out the truth of the matter in an engaging and hugely accessible way. I personally couldn't put it down, and as an active researcher in the field itself, it has provided me with some very real food for thought. - AmazonA compact, very readable, and highly entertaining history of the development and use of mathematics to answer the important practical questions involved in advancing civilization . . . [a] sense of wonder permeates the entire book. There are courses in music appreciation and art appreciation, and if there is ever an institution with the good sense to create a course in math appreciation, this is absolutely the book I would want to see used for it. And that doesn't even include the historical insights and sidelights that add to the pleasure of reading this book . . .a superb introduction to mathematics, science, and that branch of philosophy devoted to exploring the nature of reality.
BRIAN CLEGG is a prize-winning science writer with a physics degree from Cambridge and a masters in the mathematical discipline operational research. He has written over 20 science books and articles for newspapers and magazines from The Observer and Wall Street Journal to BBC Focus and Playboy. He lives in Wiltshire, England, with his wife and two children.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781472139764 |
| ISBN 10 | 1472139763 |
| Title | Are Numbers Real? |
| Author | Brian Clegg |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | Little, Brown Book Group |
| Year published | 2017-02-02 |
| Number of pages | 304 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |