Product Description

The aim of this book is to explain, carefully but not technically, the differences between advanced, research-level mathematics, and the sort of mathematics we learn at school. The most fundamental differences are philosophical, and readers of this book will emerge with a clearer understanding of paradoxical-sounding concepts such as infinity, curved space, and imaginary numbers. The first few chapters are about general aspects of mathematical thought. These are followed by discussions of more specific topics, and the book closes with a chapter answering common sociological questions about the mathematical community (such as "Is it true that mathematicians burn out at the age of 25?")

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9312 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-22
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

About the Author
Timothy Gowers is Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University and was a recipient of a Fields Medal for Mathematics in 1998, awarded for 'the most daring, profound and stimulating research done by young mathematicians'.

Customer Reviews

Clear and concise overview of mathematical concepts
Professor Gowers explains the key concepts of mathematics in this accessible and well-constructed book. Written for a general audience (although some basic scientific knowledge is an advantage), this book avoids the popularisation of mathematics, but instead focuses instead on the central ideas of abstraction and axiomisation which underpin all of modern mathematics.

After an introductory chapter on mathematical models in the sciences, Professor Gowers covers topics including numbers, limits, dimension and approximation in six short chapters. A final chapter gives thought-provoking answers to questions such as what are the connections between mathematics and music, and what is beauty in mathematics. The format inevitably means that some topics are omitted due to lack of space - there is little background on the history of mathematics for example - but that does not detract from the central theme of the book.

Professor Gowers' enthusiasm for his subject comes across on every page.

Fascinating
I have bought several books in the "Very Short Introduction..." series all of which have been excellent and this one in particular is extremely clear and interesting. The book is aimed at the intelligent layperson and gives a general introduction to what maths really is and how professional mathematicians think about it. This approach is in contrast to most people's experience in school where tedious and repetitive calculation is the norm (which is a real shame). Various areas in maths are looked at and the ideas behind them are explained rather than the reader being hit with big formulae and funny looking symbols.

Insightful, Lucid, and Thought-Provoking
It is amazing how Tim Gowers, one of the greatest mathematicians
of our time, managed to convey the spirit and content of math to the general reader, and not only. Even professional mathematicians will learn a lot from his insightful remarks.
This ``little'' book is destined to become a classic of popular
science writing.