New Mathematical Diversions

by Martin Gardner, John Johnson (Illustrator)

Book by Gardner, Martin

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

268 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

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

[Josh Friedlander · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of “mathematical diversions” from Gardner’s legendary Scientific American column, from the years 1959-1961. The expectation that the diversion-seeking reader will cut up paper shapes or paint wooden blocks as props possibly testifies to the paucity of recreational options during the period, but I found it interesting to consider the puzzles without actually making them. Addenda at the end of each chapter add responses from readers and solutions to some of the problems. A lot have to do with patterns which can be generated by simple rules (this predates Conway’s Game of Life, from 1970), types of games and whether they are solvable (either by hand or by computer), “mind-reading tricks”, as well as areas of more serious mathematics which are simple to express, such as Euler’s squares, a conjecture which was finally disproved in 1959, and actually has an important practical application in experiment design discovered by R.A. Fisher.

[Andy Cyca · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's always hard for me to rate this kind of book. On one hand, I love mathematics and I believe everyone could benefit from exercising their brains (through numbers, word games or whatever else). On the other, I must not judge a book only because I like the overall subject and I've liked an author before.

This particular book has some things going for it: at the end of all chapters Gardner regales us with addenda, whether it's solutions sent to him by readers, alternative problems to solve or even new insights into the topics discussed.

The only bad thing about this particular book is that it's both too long and too short. The chapters tend to delve a bit too much into the topics, and at the same time there's not enough chapters, although the interested reader will get bang for their buck if they honestly try and solve/play with the problems presented here.

[Mark Isaak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of twenty of Gardner's columns from _Scientific American_, with addenda updating each chapter with relevant correspondence and developments. (For example, his chapter on the four-color map problem notes that a computer-assisted proof has now been found for it.) Gardner, if you are unfamiliar with his work, is a master at explaining mathematical ideas and making them interesting. As the title hints at, the topics are quite diverse.

[Remo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tercera recopilación de los pasatiempos matemáticos de martin Gardner en el Scientific American. Muy entretenida, con mucha variedad y con dificultad desde asequible (algunos) hasta doctorado, dependiendo de la profundidad con la que nos queramos meter en cada problema. Una gozada.

[Ste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some particularly good geometric puzzles in this one. Unlike the earlier books, this one also feels less familiar - I guess other maths writers only pillaged the first couple and never got this far into the series.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though I have read most of his writings more than once, Martin Gardner is one of the authors that will never take you down a path of satiation. There is no question that more people have been turned on to mathematics or had their mathematical motor revved by Martin Gardner's writings than by any other person in history. His signature writings were the "Mathematical Games and Recreations" column that appeared monthly for 25 years in "Scientific American." This book is a republication of 20 of his original columns, with subsequent addendum and postscript added.
The titles of the columns are:

*) The binary system
*) Group theory and braids
*) Eight problems
*) The games and puzzles of Lewis Carroll
*) Paper cutting
*) Board games
*) Packing spheres
*) The transcendental number ð
*) Victor Eigen: mathemagician
*) The four-color map theorem
*) Mr. Appollinax visits New York
*) Nine problems
*) Polyominoes and fault-free rectangles
*) Euler's spoilers: the discovery of an order-10 Greco-Latin square
*) The ellipse
*) The 24 color squares and the 30 color cubes
*) H. S. M. Coxeter
*) Bridg-it and other games
*) Nine more problems
*) The calculus of finite differences

"How Great Thou Art" is the title of a religious song, but it could also be the signature phrase used to describe Martin Gardner and the role he has had in the development of the modern mathematics community. That skill is demonstrated one more time in this book.

This book was made available for free for review purposes and this review appears on Amazon

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

If there were a mathematics of watching paint dry, Martin Gardner would make it interesting. Without peer as a popularizer of mathematics, he is equally adept at explaining all areas. This book, another updated collection of his Scientific American columns, is a twenty member set of polished pearls. Although somewhat mundane as a descriptive adjective, the word readable fits his writing like a custom made body stocking.
Always interesting and entertaining, reading his essays is somewhat like eating tiny chocolate bars. You can't get enough, each seems too small, and there are no negative side effects.

Published in Journal of Recreational Mathematics, reprinted with permission and this review appears on Amazon.

[Puck · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent compilation of recreatinal mathematics, puzzles, activities and theories that challenge your brain and teach you something new. It is very fun to go through the different games mentioned by the author; if you like mathematics in any way, this is a must read.

[Jim Razinha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as many engaging puzzles for me in this one, but I still like reading the collections.