The Colossal Book of Mathematics

by Martin Gardner

s/t: Classic Puzzles, Paradoxes & Problems
Whether discussing hexaflexagons or number theory, Klein bottles or the essence of "nothing," Martin Gardner has single-handedly created the field of "recreational mathematics." The Colossal Book of Mathematics collects together Gardner's most popular pieces from his legendary "Mathematical Games" column, which ran in Scientific American for twenty-five years. Gardner's array of absorbing puzzles and mind-twisting paradoxes opens mathematics up to the world at large, inspiring people to see past numbers and formulas and experience the application of mathematical principles to the mysterious world around them. With articles on topics ranging from simple algebra to the twisting surfaces of Mobius strips, from an endless game of Bulgarian solitaire to the unreachable dream of time travel, this volume comprises a substantial and definitive monument to Gardner's influence on mathematics, science, and culture.

In its twelve sections, The Colossal Book of Math explores a wide range of areas, each startlingly illuminated by Gardner's incisive expertise. Beginning with seemingly simple topics, Gardner expertly guides us through complicated and wondrous worlds: by way of basic algebra we contemplate the mesmerizing, often hilarious, linguistic and numerical possibilities of palindromes; using simple geometry, he dissects the principles of symmetry upon which the renowned mathematical artist M. C. Escher constructs his unique, dizzying universe. Gardner, like few thinkers today, melds a rigorous scientific skepticism with a profound artistic and imaginative impulse. His stunning exploration of "The Church of the Fourth Dimension," for example, bridges the disparate worlds of religion and science by brilliantly imagining the spatial possibility of God's presence in the world as a fourth dimension, at once "everywhere and nowhere."

With boundless wisdom and his trademark wit, Gardner allows the reader to further engage challenging topics like probability and game theory which have plagued clever gamblers, and famous mathematicians, for centuries. Whether debunking Pascal's wager with basic probability, making visual music with fractals, or uncoiling a "knotted doughnut" with introductory topology, Gardner continuously displays his fierce intelligence and gentle humor. His articles confront both the comfortingly mundane—"Generalized Ticktacktoe" and "Sprouts and Brussel Sprouts"—and the quakingly abstract—"Hexaflexagons," "Nothing," and "Everything." He navigates these staggeringly obscure topics with a deft intelligence and, with addendums and suggested reading lists, he informs these classic articles with new insight.

Admired by scientists and mathematicians, writers and readers alike, Gardner's vast knowledge and burning curiosity reveal themselves on every page. The culmination of a lifelong devotion to the wonders of mathematics, The Colossal Book of Mathematics is the largest and most comprehensive math book ever assembled by Gardner and remains an indispensable volume for the amateur and expert alike.

Genres: Mathematics, Science, Nonfiction, Reference, Puzzles, Stem, Games

736 pages, Hardcover

First published September 10, 2001

About the author

Martin Gardner was an American mathematics and science writer specializing in recreational mathematics, but with interests encompassing micromagic, stage magic, literature (especially the writings of Lewis Carroll), philosophy, scientific skepticism, and religion. He wrote the Mathematical Games column in Scientific American from 1956 to 1981, and published over 70 books.

Reviews

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

One does not need any math skills to enjoy this rich collection of essays on the history of mathematics, its imprint on philosophy and literature, the art of Escher, fractals, tesseracts, paradoxes, hexaflexagons and many other wonderful things. The perfect desert island book.

[Maurizio Codogno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martin Gardner non ha bisogno di presentazione. Però questo libro forse sì. In pratica, assieme al suo compagno <ì>The Colossal Books of Problems, questo volume raccoglie il meglio della sua produzione apparsa nella rubrica "Mathematical Games" dello Scientific American. Chi ha doviziosamente collezionato tutti i suoi libri non trova praticamente nulla di nuovo, se non qualche rara aggiunta di nuovi risultati trovati tra la pubblicazione originaria delle raccolte e il 2001. Ha però il vantaggio di poter leggere gli articoli secondo un filo logico, seguendo le dodici sezioni in cui il libro è diviso; questo può per esempio far risaltare la vena filosofica e fors'anche teologica di Gardner, che spesso viene persa fermandosi al divertimento dei problemi e alla piacevolezza della prosa. In compenso credo che sarebbe stato utile nell'occhiello dei vari articoli indicare quale è stata la data originale di pubblicazione. Spesso è infatti utile capire come i vari temi sono nati e cresciuti: anche la matematica ricreativa ha le sue mode... In definitiva, se avete bisogno di conoscere la matematica ricreativa questo è probabilmente il libro per voi.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Martin Gardner, master of all things puzzling, mathe-magical, and philosophical(read the "whys of a philosophical scrivener") delights me with his finest book. Discover the paradox of intransitive games; where you always lose even though you get to choose your team first.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've taken it off my Reading shelf because it's the kind of book I'll go back to for the rest of my life. Each chapter opens up new avenues of study and reading the same chapter a few months later awakens even newer interests.

Great stuff.

[Brett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a treasure of recreational mathematics. Fascinating illustrations and Gardner's easy to read prose make this a great read.

[Stephen Cranney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have rated it higher, but some of the material was a bit dated. Excellent exposition of recreational mathematics.

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incomparably entertaining collection of Gardner's most interesting mathematical columns. For a casual mathematics lover, I cannot even imagine a more enjoyable book.

[John Orman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful tour of all of mathematics, told in the popular style of Martin Gardner.

[Julio The Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is a numbers game! Is the world ruled by mathematics, as Pythagoras taught us? Consider Martin Gardner's collection of weird numerical alignments: Germany became the Federal Republic of Germany on 5/05/55. Josef Stalin died on 5/3/53. D-Day was launched at the 6 hour of the 6 day of the sixth month of the 6th year of World War II. Coincidence or serendipity? Gardner suggest an even more sublime thesis, i.e. a fourth dimension, you can call it God if you like, which frames our universe. Enjoy and ponder these puzzles, some written under the pseudonym of "Dr. Hawk"---an early slang word for LSD.

[Anthony Battle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an exciting read. Every paragraph grabs one's attention and then takes you to another paradox. Martin Gardner speaks fluently about several different mathematical topics and somehow makes them understandable in a concise way. I have never read this author before, but if I had been living during the many articles he publish in Scientific America, I would consider this book a holy grail.

[Aakash Dalal · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the best mathematics book Martin Gardner have written

[Sourabh Das · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent

[Frank · Rating 3 out of 5]

An eclectic mix of deep insights and triviality; all told engagingly in MG's characteristically light manner. In other words, just the way my generation fondly remembers MG.

[Napalmlolita · Rating 3 out of 5]

On some subjects, like higher-dimensional geometry, there is more information that you could possibly want without being a math professor. On some subjects, like the physics of Planiverse, there is not enough information to satisfyingly conclude the chapter. It is interesting book, but not well-balanced. And I don't appreciate how it advertises and glorifies Douglas Hofstadter's "Gödel, Escher, Bach", which is really a mediocre book.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this at night sometimes. Not in any particular order. It helps me sleep.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gardner's math puzzles are very entertaining. I gave up on making my way through the book, it seems more suited to picking up every now and then to find an interesting tidbit.

[Alienindie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endless cornucopia of stimulating ideas!

[Дарья · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute delight.

[Slickmez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only skimmed it. Has some interesting problems and concepts.

[Eva Filoramo · Rating 5 out of 5]

La bibbia della matematica ricreativa. Rubato al mio capo, non credo glielo restituirò mai. In italiano hanno tradotto qualcosa, ma qui c'è tutto quello che avrei sempre potuto desiderare! splendido.

[Sarah S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very challenging puzzles!

[Ryan Shuck · Rating 3 out of 5]

A broad range of topics in Math discussed briefly. Some I had not known. Badinkles.

[Moloy De · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind boggling book to have fun with math