What do you think?
The Pythagorean Theorem: A 4,000-Year History
By any measure, the Pythagorean theorem is the most famous statement in all of mathematics, one remembered from high school geometry class by even the most math-phobic students. Well over four hundred proofs are known to exist, including ones by a twelve-year-old Einstein, a young blind girl, Leonardo da Vinci, and a future president of the United States. Here--perhaps for the first time in English--is the full story of this famous theorem.
Although attributed to Pythagoras, the theorem was known to the Babylonians more than a thousand years before him. He may have been the first to prove it, but his proof--if indeed he had one--is lost to us. Euclid immortalized it as Proposition 47 in his Elements , and it is from there that it has passed down to generations of students. The theorem is central to almost every branch of science, pure or applied. It has even been proposed as a means to communicate with extraterrestrial beings, if and when we discover them. And, expanded to four-dimensional space-time, it plays a pivotal role in Einstein's theory of relativity.
In this book, Eli Maor brings to life many of the characters that played a role in the development of the Pythagorean theorem, providing a fascinating backdrop to perhaps our oldest enduring mathematical legacy.
Although attributed to Pythagoras, the theorem was known to the Babylonians more than a thousand years before him. He may have been the first to prove it, but his proof--if indeed he had one--is lost to us. Euclid immortalized it as Proposition 47 in his Elements , and it is from there that it has passed down to generations of students. The theorem is central to almost every branch of science, pure or applied. It has even been proposed as a means to communicate with extraterrestrial beings, if and when we discover them. And, expanded to four-dimensional space-time, it plays a pivotal role in Einstein's theory of relativity.
In this book, Eli Maor brings to life many of the characters that played a role in the development of the Pythagorean theorem, providing a fascinating backdrop to perhaps our oldest enduring mathematical legacy.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 21, 2007
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 17, 2016
This book is not for everyone, but being a science nerd I enjoyed skimming through it. The author writes clearly about a complicated subject and makes it interesting and understandable. It has historical vignettes about the minds who have grappled with mathematical explorations, proofs and logic. The book goes beyond the Pythagorean theorem itself and goes into some calculus and hyperspace geometry with its connection to relativity. I had fun following along with some of the proofs and I'm sure it did my aging brain some good.
July 26, 2026
Everyone knows the theorem. However, why is it true? More importantly, what do the proofs actually prove?
As expected, Professor Maor provides a historical account of the discovery, development, and uses of the theorem. A carefully curated selection of proofs is included, but these are decidedly not the book's main focus. Instead, it becomes apparent—if not explicitly stated—that the theorem is firmly rooted in Euclidean geometry. This crucial point is revisited in the last chapter.
Maor introduces concepts such as Hilbert space and Riemannian manifolds. Naturally, these treatments are necessarily superficial; otherwise, lay readers like me would struggle to follow. Nevertheless, they are sufficient to demonstrate how the Pythagorean theorem underpins both special and general relativity, revealing its astonishing centrality to modern physics.
This, in turn, leads to one of the deepest questions in mathematics, succinctly raised in the final chapter: does mathematics somehow exist independently in the universe? The intimate connection between geometry and virtually every other branch of mathematics, together with the remarkable way geometric metrics describe physical reality, gives us much to ponder and meditate upon.
The book also includes four engaging puzzles that both challenge the reader and reinforce the ideas developed throughout the text. Altogether, it is a fascinating, thought-provoking, and highly rewarding read.
Five stars.
As expected, Professor Maor provides a historical account of the discovery, development, and uses of the theorem. A carefully curated selection of proofs is included, but these are decidedly not the book's main focus. Instead, it becomes apparent—if not explicitly stated—that the theorem is firmly rooted in Euclidean geometry. This crucial point is revisited in the last chapter.
Maor introduces concepts such as Hilbert space and Riemannian manifolds. Naturally, these treatments are necessarily superficial; otherwise, lay readers like me would struggle to follow. Nevertheless, they are sufficient to demonstrate how the Pythagorean theorem underpins both special and general relativity, revealing its astonishing centrality to modern physics.
This, in turn, leads to one of the deepest questions in mathematics, succinctly raised in the final chapter: does mathematics somehow exist independently in the universe? The intimate connection between geometry and virtually every other branch of mathematics, together with the remarkable way geometric metrics describe physical reality, gives us much to ponder and meditate upon.
The book also includes four engaging puzzles that both challenge the reader and reinforce the ideas developed throughout the text. Altogether, it is a fascinating, thought-provoking, and highly rewarding read.
Five stars.
January 16, 2022
6 stars if it was possible here on GR!
March 16, 2023
Непогана книжечка. Історичний огляд у контексті використання теореми Піфагора. Нічого особливого
August 12, 2023
Similar to his other books. Bits of history and a bit of relevant math put together in a competent fashion.
August 28, 2024
Σκέτη απόλαυση! Ένα βιβλίο που σίγουρα πρέπει να διαβάσουν οι μαθηματικοί.
July 23, 2018
Our favorite theorem!
March 7, 2025
Before I read this book, I assumed that the theorem was simply a discovery of Pythagoras and his secretive cult in ancient Greece. This book made me realize that the story being told is a misconception. That the theorem has been discovered independently across the world long before the cult of Pytagoras existed. The theorem was used when constructing the pyramids.
This book had changed the way that I teach this theorem to my own students. Making me realize how much more intuitive it is.
This book had changed the way that I teach this theorem to my own students. Making me realize how much more intuitive it is.
June 29, 2008
A good history of the Pythagorean Theorem, different proofs of it, different puzzles and brainteasers using it, and how it relates to other topics in math.
Want to Read
April 6, 2009...for so many years we have all utilised this theorem, it should be quite interesting to learn of its history...
August 21, 2012
So yes it is one of my favorites and a 101 of Math History! Apparently every genius has come-up with their own and a unique proof of the theorem. Spooky stuff! Must Read.
June 26, 2015
An excellent overview of one of the most important theorems in Mathematics. Accessible to most readers, although still challenging enough for people with a deeper knowledge of the subject.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews