Graph theory 1736-1936

by Norman L. Biggs, E. Keith Lloyd, Robin J. Wilson

A contribution to the history of mathematics and for the way that it brings the subject alive. Building on a set of original writings from some of the founders of graph theory, the traces the historical development of the subject through a linking commentary. The relevant underlying mathematics is also explained.

Hardcover

First published September 23, 1976

Reviews

[Dav · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was probably the best organizing format of any mathematics book I've read so far. The idea is to take one subject and trace its development via the actual publications that advanced (or in the case of Peter Tait, derailed) our understanding of the matter. The publications were pared down to the most critical sections and usually explained somewhat before they were introduced in order to prepare the reader to grasp the new concepts.

It was so well done that it was hard not to give it five stars, but I can think of at least one way it could have been better. The authors made a choice to adhere closely to historical accuracy at the expense of clarity. They chose to present the extracts with the original terminology intact often requiring some explanation as the terminologies switched often between papers. A five star book would have standardized the terms and left the historical accuracy to the appendices. I also would have appreciated some sample problems to work out at the end of each chapter to help hone my understanding of the new material.

In the end however, it is still a great book. It was entertaining and educational. They kept things from getting too dry with plenty of biographical material. Perhaps the subject matter was particularly suited for this type of treatment in a popular book, being tied strongly to visual perception and concepts used in puzzles, but I would love to see other mathematical subjects similarly treated.