Product Description
A gently guided, profusely illustrated Grand Tour of the world of mathematics. This extraordinary work takes the reader on a long and fascinating journey--from the dual invention of numbers and language, through the major realms of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus, to the final destination of differential equations, with excursions into mathematical logic, set theory, topology, fractals, probability, and assorted other mathematical byways. The book is unique among popular books on mathematics in combining an engaging, easy-to-read history of the subject with a comprehensive mathematical survey text. Intended, in the author's words, "for the benefit of those who never studied the subject, those who think they have forgotten what they once learned, or those with a sincere desire for more knowledge," it links mathematics to the humanities, linguistics, the natural sciences, and technology. Contains more than 1000 original technical illustrations, a multitude of reproductions from mathematical classics and other relevant works, and a generous sprinkling of humorous asides, ranging from limericks and tall stories to cartoons and decorative drawings. Over 1000 technical illustrations and cartoons and drawings.

Amazon.com Review
What does mathematics mean? Is it numbers or arithmetic, proofs or equations? Jan Gullberg starts his massive historical overview with some insight into why human beings find it necessary to "reckon," or count, and what math means to us. From there to the last chapter, on differential equations, is a very long, but surprisingly engrossing journey. Mathematics covers how symbolic logic fits into cultures around the world, and gives fascinating biographical tidbits on mathematicians from Archimedes to Wiles. It's a big book, copiously illustrated with goofy little line drawings and cartoon reprints. But the real appeal (at least for math buffs) lies in the scads of problems--with solutions--illustrating the concepts. It really invites readers to sit down with a cup of tea, pencil and paper, and (ahem) a calculator and start solving. Remember the first time you "got it" in math class? With Mathematics you can recapture that bliss, and maybe learn something new, too. Everyone from schoolkids to professors (and maybe even die-hard mathphobes) can find something useful, informative, or entertaining here. --Therese Littleton

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 65 reviews)

Absolutely delightful. by Bruce Oksol (San Antonio)

5 Stars
July 18, 2009
This summer I am tutoring a 9th grader in mathematics. Periodically we take a break from doing problems and simply talk about math and algebra in a general sense. As we talk and work through some concepts, we come up with all kinds of questions, like where did "0" come from and which set (the set of integers or the set of even numbers), both infinite in size, is larger. Also, if kilo- means a thousand and milli- means thousand where did the two prefixes come from. It turns out that by bringing just one book (albeit a very big book) to his house, we have been able to answer all his questions. This is a phenomenal book. I think adult armchair mathematicians will get a big kick out of it, but more importantly, it is very likely to pique the interest of middle school and high school students when they see it lying around the family library. I doubt most students will leave their video games to look at a book like this, but one never knows. Even if it is just one student out of a thousand, it is worth it. That student might be your daughter or your son.

Purely a reference book and highly boring by Austin Somlo (Vincentown, NJ)

3 Stars
January 24, 2009
I wouldn't say that Mathematics: From Birth of Numbers is an entertaining read because it is not. Rather, this text feels more like a reference book detailing as much facts as possible. So, that was the main reason why I gave up reading Mathematics: From Birth of Numbers midway because my mind was increasingly getting used to the idea of being a checklist as in "Yes, I know that" and "No, I don't know that yet." I would say that I know roughly 80% of the information contained in the book with other 20% unknown because I haven't yet begun my formal study in certain areas. Probably the worst feature of the book is the absolutely stale "jokes" littered all over the book, and I can't say that I chuckled for a least nanosecond. The book gives an impression of being very comprehensive, but really it is not. A simple check of Handbook of Discrete and Combinatorial Mathematics will negate the idea due to its bulky volume. In a way, Mathematics: From Birth of Numbers feels like a personal chronicle compiled by Jan Gullberg showing what he knows so far in his journey of mathematic learning. I actually have the same kind of journal as he did for Mathematics: From Birth of Numbers as I broke the journal into three binders of multitude topics under areas of mathematics. In future, when I feel like it, I'll compare my notes with his book and see if I am missing knowledge, certain formulas, etc. As for now, I still have a lot of math to study before I'll spend time with Mathematics: From Birth of Numbers. From time to time, Mathematics: From Birth of Numbers has an error here and there. I find the author's use of ] -inf, inf [ extremely odd. Although there are pictures littered throughout the book, I found them bland and uninspiring. All in all, novices of math will find Mathematics: From Birth of Numbers daunting because of the depth of the info yet might find it a useful reference over Schaum's Outlines: Mathematical Handbook of Formulas and Tables for the ease of use and more friendly-user, and experts will probably bash Mathematics: From Birth of Numbers into smithereens for inaccuracies, so it's best to say the book is truly for those in the middle ground, hopefully for some entertainment if possible.

Very good with one little flaw by Adam Redwine

4 Stars
December 22, 2008
This book gives a good, quick, and clear overview on a truly vast quantity of material. I will say, however, that I was truly disappointed when I tried using the series expansion for pi given on page 920 and realized almost immediately that it is the wrong series!!! I don't know if this has been corrected in subsequent editions, but it was the first step to push me away from "books only" and more toward the "wisdom of the masses" (i.e. wikipedia) approach. It's still quite enjoyable nonetheless.

Excellent math resource by Little Old Granny (Redding, CA)

4 Stars
August 11, 2008
In the last few years I decided to learn more about mathematics. I think I may have had "math anxiety" early in my schooling. Either that or my brain isn't mathematically inclined. I ordered this book hoping it would partially overcome my difficulty in learning math. I would say it does. The book is way too big and long to sit down and read as one would other types of books. However, it is a tremendous resource, well written and relatively easy to understand (that depends somewhat on one's math expertise). The title "Mathematics From the Birth of Numbers" describes the book exactly. It starts with, literally, the birth of numbers in "ancient" times and goes through all of the kinds of mathematics, such as number theory, calculus, geometry, etc. I recommend this book more as a reference than as a textbook or a book to read from cover to cover. For example, if you want to know something about number theory, go to that section of the book and read what you want to know. Same with other topics. Illustrations and equations are plentiful and answers to the exercises are in the back. My only criticism which really isn't a criticism; the book is too heavy for me to sit comfortably in my recliner and read. It couldn't be any lighter in weight, though. If you want a good history of mathematics plus explanations of most of the various mathematical disciplines, I would recommend this book.

A Bit Pricey, but aren't all Math Books? by Herbert L Calhoun (Falls Church, VA USA)

4 Stars
April 27, 2008
A beautiful written and illustrated gentle, user-friendly reference guide to mathematics from the invention of numbers, counting and reckoning up through linear differential equations, touching on all of the important signposts in between. The explanations are clear, concise and accompanied by excellent diagrams. Elementary calculus is covered especially well. The foray into Topology, fractals, and symbolic logic was an unexpected bonus with a modern touch. The very final section on probability theory with a calculus approach to probability density functions stands out as exceptional. On the negative side, I expected more on infinite numbers, topology (which was only two pages of diagrams and basic definitions only), and vector analysis, which seems to have stopped at cross products. But despite these minor points, it is a very useful and up-to-date reference guide for non-mathematicians and others up through the calculus. Four stars.

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