Calculus: A Liberal Art

by William M. Priestley

Presenting mathematics as forming a natural bridge between the humanities and the sciences, this book makes calculus accessible to those in the liberal arts. Much of the necessary geometry and algebra are exposed through historical development, and a section on the development of calculus offers insights into the place of mathematics in the history of thought.

Genres: Mathematics

421 pages, Hardcover

First published April 23, 1998

Reviews

[Myka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never would have passed Calculus in college if I hadn't first discovered this old textbook on my mother's shelf. The explanations and exercises are clear, yes. More significantly, the author's perspective on math as a type of language that a "liberal arts brain" can learn to speak. This idea will appear revelatory to people like me who grew up thinking that these types of the thinking were not only clearly distinct from one another but also opposed to one another in drastic, inalterable ways. Who does this so-called distinction serve, I wonder? At ant rate, this text is old and probably out of print. I'm taking the time to write a review out of gratitude to the author and shout-out to the idea that anyone can learn calculus when taught without prejudice. Readers who'd like a history of math written with the same open frame of mind should find a copy of "Mathematics for the Million" by Lancelot Hogben. Even Albert Einstein and HG Wells liked it.