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Go Figure!: A Totally Cool Book about Numbers
Go Figure! Helps readers investigate mathematical marvels such as why daisies always have 34, 55, or 89 petals, why all the world's phone numbers appear in pi, and other paradoxes that will make readers look at numbers in a whole new way. Full description
96 pages, Hardcover
First published August 15, 2005
3 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Johnny Ball
27 books12 followersJohnny Ball is the host of Think of a Number, Think Again (BBC), and Johnny Ball Reveals All (ITV). His shows and videos have won 12 awards, including a New York International Emmy nomination, the ITV "Presenter of the Year" Craft Award, and a BAFTA.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 13, 2010
This is, hands down, the most interesting book about math I have ever seen. In fact, I can guarantee I would have liked math a whole lot more growing up had this book been around when I was drowning in the concepts presented. I purposefully haven't showed it to Maddie yet because I wanted to check it out first—but she is at the age where math is still puzzles and magic and fun, so I plan to buy this and hope it stays that way for her.
August 5, 2011
In Go Figure!, Ball takes a broad view of numbers and math, looking at numbers throughout history and many different branches and applications of math. He intermingles brief descriptions of concepts of varying complexity, illustrations to lend insight, and brainteasers, logic puzzles, magic tricks, and games that kids (and adults) will be itching to try out. Some of the concepts may be challenging to children (and even some adults), but helpful math tips and tricks, as well as answers to questions presented throughout, are included. I see this book serving a couple of distinct purposes: making math fun and accessible to children who don’t consider themselves “number people”; and encouraging reading among those children who are more interested in math than books. I would say the target age for this book would be children in 4th-8th grade. I found this book fascinating and would recommend it, despite some of the drawbacks outlined in the below analysis.
Authority: Author Johnny Ball is a former comedian and British television presenter, known for his innovative and captivating approach to math. His TV experience was primarily on children’s shows aimed at making math, science and technology more accessible and entertaining to kids. This is the same philosophy he applies to Go Figure!, one of six books he’s written for children.
Organization: The book is clearly organized in four distinct chapters. The first, “Where do numbers come from?” looks at the history of numbers, counting, and math, and presents an extensive quiz of brainteasers and logic puzzles. The second chapter, “Magic numbers,” explores magic squares, prime numbers, Pascal’s triangle, square numbers, pi, infinity and beyond. Chapter three, “Shaping up,” introduces geometry and the mathematics of shape and space. The final chapter, “The world of math,” looks at the progression of math and how it helps us understand the world. Complex concepts like chaos, fractals and logic are introduced, and the final four-page spread summarizes contributions of great mathematicians throughout history. A table of contents and detailed index make navigation easy.
Illustrations: Each page is brightly illustrated with many images that support the concepts presented on the page. Every spread includes a broad range of colors, but each chapter has a dominant accent color that ties the section together. Most illustrations or photos are of objects rather than people, who most frequently are represented by hands only, if at all. White hands dominate, though there is some racial diversity present, as well as illustrations that clearly support the multicultural history presented.
Design: The design is busy, but navigable. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell exactly where to focus on each page, as they are jam-packed with information and images. However, each image clearly supports and enhances points being made. The colorful layouts also make the book seem more accessible, which can help readers get through some of the more challenging concepts.
Writing Style: Ball’s writing style is very conversational, making the content easy to understand, at least on a broad level. He makes the concepts approachable and fun, with lots of questions challenging readers to try things for themselves. The brainteasers and puzzles presented throughout will have kids eagerly reaching for decks of cards, paper, calculators and more.
Documentation of Sources: This is the area in which the book is most sorely lacking. There is no bibliography or list of references to be found anywhere in the book, despite the large number of historical and scientific facts presented throughout. The acknowledgements at the back only list names, and not how each person contributed to the book. The only specific source notes are for the illustrations, many of which have been reprinted with permission from various sources.
Authority: Author Johnny Ball is a former comedian and British television presenter, known for his innovative and captivating approach to math. His TV experience was primarily on children’s shows aimed at making math, science and technology more accessible and entertaining to kids. This is the same philosophy he applies to Go Figure!, one of six books he’s written for children.
Organization: The book is clearly organized in four distinct chapters. The first, “Where do numbers come from?” looks at the history of numbers, counting, and math, and presents an extensive quiz of brainteasers and logic puzzles. The second chapter, “Magic numbers,” explores magic squares, prime numbers, Pascal’s triangle, square numbers, pi, infinity and beyond. Chapter three, “Shaping up,” introduces geometry and the mathematics of shape and space. The final chapter, “The world of math,” looks at the progression of math and how it helps us understand the world. Complex concepts like chaos, fractals and logic are introduced, and the final four-page spread summarizes contributions of great mathematicians throughout history. A table of contents and detailed index make navigation easy.
Illustrations: Each page is brightly illustrated with many images that support the concepts presented on the page. Every spread includes a broad range of colors, but each chapter has a dominant accent color that ties the section together. Most illustrations or photos are of objects rather than people, who most frequently are represented by hands only, if at all. White hands dominate, though there is some racial diversity present, as well as illustrations that clearly support the multicultural history presented.
Design: The design is busy, but navigable. Sometimes it can be difficult to tell exactly where to focus on each page, as they are jam-packed with information and images. However, each image clearly supports and enhances points being made. The colorful layouts also make the book seem more accessible, which can help readers get through some of the more challenging concepts.
Writing Style: Ball’s writing style is very conversational, making the content easy to understand, at least on a broad level. He makes the concepts approachable and fun, with lots of questions challenging readers to try things for themselves. The brainteasers and puzzles presented throughout will have kids eagerly reaching for decks of cards, paper, calculators and more.
Documentation of Sources: This is the area in which the book is most sorely lacking. There is no bibliography or list of references to be found anywhere in the book, despite the large number of historical and scientific facts presented throughout. The acknowledgements at the back only list names, and not how each person contributed to the book. The only specific source notes are for the illustrations, many of which have been reprinted with permission from various sources.
May 13, 2011
A very cute and simple book that goes through a lot of new ideas for young minds. Includes: the history of numbers, Fibonacci series, chaos, and the like. It brings math to life and is fun and informative for all ages. For a more in depth look at what is in this book I would suggest What Shape is a Snowflake? by Ian Stewart.
March 5, 2014
My nine-year-old found this one at his school library, and I didn't get a lot of opportunity to look through it, but it sounded really neat. He tried out one of the "calculator magic tricks" on me and, lo and behold, it worked! Lots of fun with math for elementary-aged kids. This author also wrote Why Pi?, which we've enjoyed from the library before.
October 12, 2010
--great for kids that love math
Grades 4-8
--first origins of math—egyptians, mayans, india, etc.
--math puzzles like magic squares, how to estimate jar
--playing with shapes—optical illusions and fractals
--includes puzzles and activities with answers in back
Grades 4-8
--first origins of math—egyptians, mayans, india, etc.
--math puzzles like magic squares, how to estimate jar
--playing with shapes—optical illusions and fractals
--includes puzzles and activities with answers in back
August 20, 2014
Good book with great math visuals. There is a ton of information packed in less than 100 pages.
Great book to have in the math classroom. Making copies for students to read is not easy.
Great children's book about math.
Great book to have in the math classroom. Making copies for students to read is not easy.
Great children's book about math.
October 1, 2008
So far, I'm really enjoying this book.
February 24, 2010
A kid's book about math- we loved it so much that we got it for Christmas.
April 22, 2010
Any book that can make math this fun gets five stars from me!
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October 29, 2011Great pictorial demonstrations and illustrations of arithmetic. Home and classroom reference. Super for kids who like to 'read math'.
March 2, 2014
A DK book chock full of fascinating tidbits of math in an invitingly busy layout.
April 16, 2015
Great book that shows the many ways math is used all around us.
April 4, 2020
This is an awesome "thinking outside of the box" book for number sense and problem solving!
December 13, 2011
I love this book. The "newspaper" that doesn't have any numbers is especially funny!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews