The Best Writing On Mathematics: 2010

Description

This anthology brings together the year's finest writing on mathematics from around the world. Featuring promising new voices alongside some of the foremost names in mathematics, "The Best Writing on Mathematics" makes available to a wide audience many articles not easily found anywhere else - and you don't need to be a mathematician to enjoy them. These writings offer surprising insights into the nature, meaning, and practice of mathematics today. They delve into the history, philosophy, teaching, and everyday occurrences of math, and take readers behind the scenes of today's hottest mathematical debates. Here readers will discover why Freeman Dyson thinks some mathematicians are birds while others are frogs; why Keith Devlin believes there's more to mathematics than proof; what Nick Paumgarten has to say about the timing patterns of New York City's traffic lights (and why jaywalking is the most mathematically efficient way to cross Sixty-sixth Street); what Samuel Arbesman can tell us about the epidemiology of the undead in zombie flicks; and much, much more.
In addition to presenting the year's most memorable writing on mathematics, this must-have anthology also includes a foreword by esteemed mathematician William Thurston and an informative introduction by Mircea Pitici. This book belongs on the shelf of anyone interested in where math has taken us - and where it's headed.

Promotion info

I had thought that I kept up fairly well on mathematical publications of a general sort--that was until I looked at the rich variety of pieces included in this book, most of which were new to me. I found this collection overall very attractive. -- Gerald L. Alexanderson, Santa Clara University A delight to read. This is a fine volume with lots of terrific articles that are as enticing as they are varied. The sum total is simply great. -- Barry Mazur, Harvard University