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Benjamin Franklin's Numbers: An Unsung Mathematical Odyssey
Few American lives have been as celebrated--or as closely scrutinized--as that of Benjamin Franklin. Yet until now Franklin's biographers have downplayed his interest in mathematics, at best portraying it as the idle musings of a brilliant and ever-restless mind. In Benjamin Franklin's Numbers , Paul Pasles reveals a side of the iconic statesman, scientist, and writer that few Americans know--his mathematical side.
In fact, Franklin indulged in many areas of mathematics, including number theory, geometry, statistics, and economics. In this generously illustrated book, Pasles gives us the first mathematical biography of Benjamin Franklin. He draws upon previously unknown sources to illustrate Franklin's genius for numbers as never before. Magic squares and circles were a lifelong fascination of Franklin's. Here, for the first time, Pasles gathers every one of these marvelous creations together in one place. He explains the mathematics behind them and Franklin's hugely popular Poor Richard's Almanac , which featured such things as population estimates and a host of mathematical digressions. Pasles even includes optional math problems that challenge readers to match wits with the bespectacled Founding Father himself. Written for a general audience, this book assumes no technical skills beyond basic arithmetic.
Benjamin Franklin's Numbers is a delightful blend of biography, history, and popular mathematics. If you think you already know Franklin's story, this entertaining and richly detailed book will make you think again.
In fact, Franklin indulged in many areas of mathematics, including number theory, geometry, statistics, and economics. In this generously illustrated book, Pasles gives us the first mathematical biography of Benjamin Franklin. He draws upon previously unknown sources to illustrate Franklin's genius for numbers as never before. Magic squares and circles were a lifelong fascination of Franklin's. Here, for the first time, Pasles gathers every one of these marvelous creations together in one place. He explains the mathematics behind them and Franklin's hugely popular Poor Richard's Almanac , which featured such things as population estimates and a host of mathematical digressions. Pasles even includes optional math problems that challenge readers to match wits with the bespectacled Founding Father himself. Written for a general audience, this book assumes no technical skills beyond basic arithmetic.
Benjamin Franklin's Numbers is a delightful blend of biography, history, and popular mathematics. If you think you already know Franklin's story, this entertaining and richly detailed book will make you think again.
- GenresMathematics
272 pages, Hardcover
First published October 15, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 27, 2016
I'm a sucker for jokes in the endnotes, and I'll be honest; they probably earned the book an extra star.
It's a fun read that doesn't try to do anything more than look at an interesting quirk of Franklin's many interests. It does this rather well, and in a delightfully comical manner.
It's a fun read that doesn't try to do anything more than look at an interesting quirk of Franklin's many interests. It does this rather well, and in a delightfully comical manner.
December 19, 2007
Enjoyed it. Enjoyed the puzzles even more
August 16, 2008
Cool story. Amazing that they are still finding new things about Franklin after all these years.
January 3, 2013
Two of my very favorite topics, math and Ben Franklin together in one book. It's like a literary Reese's.
July 26, 2015
A bit more than I really wanted to know about magic squares and Ben Franklin's activity in creating them.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews