I've always found biography as a great way to learn about a broader subject -- e.g., Einstein to learn about physics, George Washington to learn about the Revolutionary War/the Federal era. In particular, I have found biography helps to illuminate mathematics by tying it to interesting individuals and focusing on some of the problems they focused on. Oftentimes, math in the classroom seems to focus on things like formulas that may be clear or well-motivated in terms of application. Biography helps to get around this and in this case, is exemplary in discussing the lives and work of 25 great mathematicians (including 3 women) with just enough detail to help you have an understanding of what the person worked on and perhaps get you interested in learning more yourself.
This really is a good book for many people, including a student who may want to know more of what math is about, a teacher looking for a topic that could be covered in class, or somebody who knows math well and wants to learn more or even someone who is pretty math-shy but wants to appreciate math more.
The book is - like the many of Stewart's books I've read - easy to read.
Very highly recommended!
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Significant Figures: The Lives and Work of Great Mathematicians
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Worth your time perhaps, but maybe not your money?
Comparing this book on several notable mathematicians to Basil Mahon's books on Oliver Heaviside and James Clerk Maxwell, Significant figures left me wanting a slightly better author with less superfluous commentary. This book is okay, but often when I was left wanting to know more, and went to the internet, I discovered what looks to be a good part of the source material. That is to say you could simply look up the mathematicians highlighted in Significant figures online, and learn as much as is covered in this book. In contrast, Basil Mahon's books are not only apparently better researched, they contain interesting details you cannot find online. Also Basil covers both Heaviside and Maxwell more objectively, despite the huge differences in the personalities of these two men, and does not let his own biases so obviously slip into his work. Significant Figures is worth checking out at a library. But I cannot recommend purchasing the book (as I did) due to its value compared to the scholarship of Basil Mahon. Granted, Basil Mahon had one book per great scientist/engineer/mathematician, leaving more room for good in depth research and organization. And Ian had a chapter per mathematician, peppered with text you can read on wikipedia or hear on youtube. So my criticism may be a tad unfair. But I would not have purchased Significant Figures for a significant sum had I known then what I know now: The book was not worth my money, though I don't regret reading it--just paying for it.
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- Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2020
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- marsha l. reidReviewed in Canada on December 16, 2017
A book that math lovers (and non math lovers can enjoy)
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