Product Description

First published by Silvanus P. Thompson in 1910, this text aims to make the topic of calculus accessible to students of mathematics. In the first major revision of the text since 1946, Martin Gardner has thoroughly updated the text to reflect developments in method and terminology, written an extensive preface and three new chapters, and added more than 20 recreational problems for practice and enjoyment.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #78124 in Books
• Published on: 1999-03-22
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

Stephen Jay Gould
'For more than half a century, Martin Gardner has been the single brightest beacon defending rationality and good science.'

Customer Reviews

A review of great praise towards this magnificent work...
This book was written way back in 1910 by a Fellow of the Royal Society. However, unlike Newton's works (he was also a member) this is extremely lucid.

The essence of this work is that anyone can do calculus. Moreover, since the fools that are university professors can do it, so can you or I. The book begins with an amusing prologue about the stupidity of the mathematical teaching establishment and how it likes to show off with its amazing ability by portraying calculus as a difficult art. The author had to 'unteach himself the difficulties' and undertakes to explain them as clearly as possible. And that he does. From personal experience, before reading this book my maths grades were in the toilet - almost immediately after I read and understood it, my grades trebled. This is because the book is the best explanation of calculus I have ever seen or heard of. This was also the favourite of an eminent American physicist who read this book himself, and went on to win the Nobel Prize in 1965. The concepts are reduced to their bare (understandable) bones, and built up again leading to some great understanding of the calculus, and a confidence to approach mathematics. This book really is a MUST for all A-level students of maths - you may as well throw your textbooks in the bin. Good work Mr. Thompson!!!

Magnificant work.
I have a number of texts on the calculus andgeneral maths and this book, written originally in 1910, but recently edited by Martin Gardener) stands head and shoulders above all the introductory texts, for introducing calculus in an understandable way, slice by slice. Also, the book being a small paperback fits into one's pocket unlike many/most texts on calculus!!!

worth the struggle
Most maths books basically tell you to do this and do that and the result will be somethingorother. This book tells you to do this and do that and you will understand why the result is somethinorother. I think the book may have been intended for school-children which would explain why it is so tedious to read. The book mainly deals with differentiation calculus. You will find this book every bit as difficult to understand as any other book on calculus. The main difference is that other textbooks teach you to use maths; this book teaches you to understand what you are doing. This book will not make you a brilliant mathematician ; since it mainly teaches the basics of differentiation. Since this forms the basis for so much of the maths you are struggling to understand and use; it is a real bonus to the average plodder. The average genius will find this book unnecessary ; the average plodder will find it a god-send.