Product Description

This is an account of the history of mathematics as it is revealed in the lives and writings of the most distinguished practitioners of the art, such as Archimedes, Descartes, Fermat, Pascal, Newton, Leibniz, Euler, Gauss, Hamilton and Einstein. In his account of their lives, the author introduces and explains the part these figures have played in the development of mathematics and how their work relates to the discipline. While the emphasis in his survey is primarily biographical, the author also discusses major historical themes and explains new ideas and techniques. Stuart Hollingdale assumes on the part of the reader no mathematical knowledge beyond GCSE level.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #137787 in Books
• Published on: 1991-07-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 464 pages

Customer Reviews

Good for serious mathematicians
I love Maths (I teach it all day every day, so that's just as well!) I'm particularly fascinated by the history of the subject - how the great theorems were discovered, what the men and women were like, that kind of thing. Well, this book certainlygave me some insight into the mathematicians, and covered a lot of the actual Maths aswell. I just found it a bit too heavy going. Not a book to plough through in one sitting, certainly; more a 'dip into' kind of book. If you're _really_ into Maths, this might suit you, but I prefer the lighter, easier going reads.

A good history of mathematics
A very interesting history of mathematics by English mathematician Stuart Hollingdale. The book is arranged in chronological order, with the first chapter dealing with the mathematics of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia and the last chapter with the latest developments in math. The mathematics of ancient Greece is covered very thoroughly, in particular. Each chapter, with the exception of the first one, takes the work of one mathematician to analyze the mathematics of the period. One can argue with the book here and there (putting Einstein as a mathematician, covering very little of 20th century developments) but overall this is a good volume about the history of mathematics. Note: while the book is not overly complex, it is not for the completely uninitiated either, as it supposes some previous knowledge of math to understand it.

Illuminates Mathematics
This book is for those readers who are seriously interested in mathematics and in the life and times of mathematicians. It contains many absorbing insights both biographical and mathematical. The biographical detail of a mathematician generally precedes the relevant mathematics. In the biographical parts the author reveals nuggets of information. The mathematics contributes to more than half the book. The important developments in mathematics are given in considerable detail with many examples. Although delivery is clear and succinct the reader is most definitely required to think. Although not everyone will want the amount of mathematical detail provided (some of it can be skipped without great loss) the detail allows one to appreciate far better what these great men achieved. Most definitely recommended.