The Book of Numbers

by Devi Shakuntala

We can't live without numbers. We need them in our daily chores, big and small. But we carry in us a certain fear of numbers and are never confident about using them. Shakuntala Devi, the internationally famous Mathematical wizard, makes it easy for us- and interesting.This book contains all we always wanted to know about numbers but was difficult to understand, and which was nowhere available. Divided into three parts, the first will tell you everything about numbers, the second some Anecdotes related with numbers and mathematicians, and the third a few important tables that will always help you.Shakuntala Devi popularly known as "the human computer." is a world famous mathematical prodigy who continues to out compute the most sophisticated computers. She took only fifty seconds to calculate the twenty-third root of a 201 digit number. To verify her answer, a Computer in Washington programmed with over 13,000 instructions took ten seconds longer. Shakuntala Devi firmly believes that Mathematics can be great fun for everybody.

Genres: Mathematics, Nonfiction

144 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Tomi Pakei]

It's Devi's, or is it?
Obviously, I bought this little book because the cover says this magic words: 'Shakuntala Devi' (you know, the lady from India who had that unique habit of wreaking havoc on world's best computers). But after a few pages, let alone when finishing it, it struck me (check out the cover title):

"Shakuntala Devi's The Book of Numbers"

I mean, apart from being grammatically questionable or ridiculously bombastic for such a little book, the fact that one particular book is Jane's (or Jane owns the book or even a couple of Jane's ideas are used in the book) DOESN'T necessarily mean that Jane wrote that book, right?

I respect the [late] great lady (then or now), but suffice it to say that the publisher is now on my least wanted list.

[Chitrank Dixit]

This is very nice read, This explains all the history and reasons behind the various numbers, puzzles and methods in mathematics, I really like some of the anecdotes. Overall very nice read would give some good ideas for programmers to solve problem more efficiently.

[Abhilash]

It is overall a good book, but i had expected more because it is written by shakuntala devi.
thing that caught my eyes were the various stories given at the end of the book, that was fabulous, but it is different that our usual maths book.

[Ritesh Mishra]

I want purchase this from Durgapur Market.
Can it be possible ?
I am also writing mathematical tricks so that I can publish that. Can you please suggest me Which will be the best publication.