Great Mathematicians

by Raymond Flood, Robin J. Wilson

The achievements of great mathematical thinkers from ancient times to the modern age are examined through engaging, accessible text. Fascinating profiles of time-measurers like the Mayans and Huygens, arithmeticians like Pythagoras and al-Khwarizmi, logicians like Aristotle and Russell, and many more. Readers can follow along on these thinkers’ quests to explain the patterns in the world around them and to solve a wide range of theoretical and practical problems.

128 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 2011

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

OK, I admit this is a bit of a niche one and I’m not saying everyone should rush out and by a copy but this suited my re-awakened interest in mathematics very well. It gives short potted histories of about 90 – 100 mathematicians or groups of mathematicians touching on their most renowned works and providing a bit of detail about the individuals themselves. There’s a bit of everything here with mathematicians who have died in duels or in a state of penury whilst one turned down a million dollar prize for providing a solution to one of the seven millennium problems. Mathematics is apparently it’s own reward. It is a book you can dip in and out of but I went through it from cover to cover and enjoyed every page. I still struggle with my sums, though.

[Kimberly Hallahan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning the history of the discovery and study of math. I'd long wondered what modern mathematicians do, and was intrigued to learn the parts of it I could understand.