Book Description
In 1859, German mathematician Bernhard Riemann presented a paper to the Berlin Academy that would forever change the history of mathematics. The subject was the mystery of prime numbers. At the heart of the presentation was an idea that Riemann had not yet proved but one that baffles mathematicians to this day.
Solving the Riemann Hypothesis could change the way we do business, since prime numbers are the lynchpin for security in banking and e-commerce. It would also have a profound impact on the cutting-edge of science, affecting quantum mechanics, chaos theory, and the future of computing. Leaders in math and science are trying to crack the elusive code, and a prize of $1 million has been offered to the winner. In this engaging book, Marcus du Sautoy reveals the extraordinary history behind the holy grail of mathematics and the ongoing quest to capture it.
Customer Reviews:
One of the best math books I have ever read.......2007-09-04
I recently got a chance to read this book, and I have been really impressed with this one. The author starts off with a joke that was played on mathematicians, and he goes back and forth in time explaining different concepts and linking together works of different mathematicians. One of the best things I liked about the primes that he mentioned were the relation that they had to energy levels of electrons in quantum physics. I was blown over by this thought that an idea that was so rooted in math actually had a link to stuff in the real world.
A must read for everyone. Its not highly mathematical, and even a layman would understand it.
Some of the greatest minds attacking one of the hardest and most beautiful problems.......2007-06-05
This is a fantastic history book on the efforts of some of the greatest mathematical (and physicist's )minds from Gauss and Riemann to Selberg and Alain Connes in their efforts to crack one of the most beautiful problems: the distribution of prime numbers.
Some of the greatest insights in mathematics and in science are when somebody makes an unexpected link between two different areas. This is what the genius of Riemann suggested connecting the prime numbers to the zeroes of a function of complex variable. The conjectured location of the zeroes of this function, the Riemann Hypothesis, is the only unsolved problems of Hilbert's list and has become, with all the honours, one of the Millenium problems, worth one million dollars, but that is nothing compared to the instant glory acquired by whoever can solve it.
Unlike the other famous problem, Fermat's Last Theorem, many theorems depend on the Hypothesis.
The book reads like a thriller and indeed some of the anecdotes are those of thriller, like the mysteries still contained in the remaining unpublished papers of Riemann, the Nachlass, and the disappearance of one of his notebooks and the destruction of a large number of his notes by his housekeeper. Another example is André Weil being accused of espionage in Finland for writing mathematical letters to Russian colleagues, being condemned to death and being spared of the death sentence by a chance dinner of the Police Chief with Nevalinna (a Finish mathematician) the night before the execution.
Billions of zeroes are known to be in the critical line and even we know that a high percentage are there, but we cannot prove with absolute certainty that they are all there. And, as Littlewood, showed, great empirical evidence is not a guarantee of mathematical certainty.
It was interesting to learn that there is a formula that outputs (when the value is positive) all primes and only primes.
This is a highly recommended book for all people interested in mathematics, although some college level of this subject will make it easier to digest.
Historical novel about mathematicians.......2007-03-18
I'd describe the book first as a novel, then as a history book and will not describe it at all as a mathematics book. It does, nonetheless, links nicely the thread that links several important works in mathematics.
Too many metaphors for my taste. Also, too many repetitions on information that was already mentioned in previous pages.
The book gave me a nice overview of the last two centuries viewed through the linking thread "The Riemann Hypothesis", introduces some interesting problems, some of which I learned in my undergraduate studies, and some were new to me. I liked the list of references for "extra reading" given by the author.
Nice book, too much of a "novel" for my taste. I like my math formal and my history with more facts than metaphors, but I'm not sure that my taste is the kind that makes books like this sell... :-)
Bottom line: nice read. I read it in a weekend and the Hebrew version (with a very good, in my opinion, translation by Uriel Givon, who added some extra information in the footnotes).
I'd give this book 6 stars if I could.......2006-05-18
Mathematical texts are seldom page-turners, but du Sautoy has written a book that's difficult to put down. He describes the history of the Riemann Hypothesis as an unfolding mystery, and there are genuine cliffhangers that leave you wondering what twists and turns the plot is about to take.
My favorite part of the book, though, consists of the characters. Instead of dryly listing each mathematician's achievement, du Sautoy describes their personalities and quirks. If you have a background in math, you'll have heard of most of the mathematicians in this book, but perhaps not known which were womanizers, which were rivals with each other, and which were just plain nuts. I'd wager that this is the first math text ever written to start with the description of an April Fool's prank.
This plot and character development means there's not as much space for technical explanations as one might like, and du Sautoy consistently avoids technical details to emphasize the ideas behind them instead. For me this was fine, since it's given me the motivation to read a more technical book, but folks who are interested only in the math behind the Riemann Hypothesis and nothing more would be happier selecting another text.
Good historical read........2005-08-30
This book gives a good historical account of the Riemann Hypothesis. The book is not too technical and is filled with historical notes which are in themselves fascinating. I also found the relation of quantum physics (energy level distribution of certain nuclei) to the Riemann Hypothesis (distribution of the Zeta function zeroes along the imaginary axis w/Re(1/2)) very interesting. The mention of elliptic curves as the basis of a data encryption algorithm was also of interest. In short, this book has succeeded in peaking my curiosity on a variety of mathematical subjects. I'm only giving it 4 stars since I would have liked a more technical treatment of the subject.
Average customer rating:
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Maurice Strong (Gateway Green Biography)
Hugh Westrup
Manufacturer: Millbrook Press
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ASIN: 1562944142 |
Book Description
The first book of its kind, Wiccan Wisdomkeepers presents dozens of in-depth interviews with a diverse "global coven" of well-known Wiccans. Celebrating the Craft of the Wise, each interview is accompanied by an original photograph, details about each practitioner's individual philosophy, and a short invocation or spell. Representing a broad spectrum of men and women from many cultures and countries, the interviews include Starhawk, internationally renowned American Wiccan and passionate environmentalist; and Doreen Valiente, who is influential in present-day Wiccan lore and in the writing of the Witches' Book of Shadows. Others include Phyllis Currot, Patricia Morrison, Francesca Howell (author of this season's Making Magic with Gaia), Sirona Knight (author of next season's Goddess Bless!), Marina Baker, Janet Farrar and Gavin Bon, Jullius, Judy Harrow, Dawn Hardy and Tony Meadows, Cassandra, and many more.
Customer Reviews:
A Wise Purchase.......2005-05-26
This wonderful book is a collection of candid interviews with some of the biggest names in Wicca, including Doreen Valiente, Starhawk, Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone, Judy Harrow, and Phyllis Curott. Writer and photographer Sally Griffyn reveals the vibrant diversity of Wicca with intimacy and a wealth of vivid photographs.
I find only one weakness in the book: the inclusion of an essay by a man who goes by the pseudonym Edmund. He claims to be a High Priest, a widely published and respected author and expert in the history of Paganism and Witchcraft for over 10 years. I question anyone who makes such claims from the broom closet. Additionally, he says that Wiccans can be atheists, which tells me he doesn't know as much as he thinks he does.
Nevertheless, beginners will learn much from Wiccan Wisdomkeepers and more experienced practitioners can see all the different directions their practice can take. The lavish photographs are sure to inspire.
Pictures alone are worth purchasing this book........2002-08-06
After borrowing this book from a close friend, I knew I had to get a copy for myself. From Doreen Valiente's last poem to Patricia Kennealy Morrison's retelling of her pagan past (and present) with deceased husband Jim Morrison of The Doors, this book is a great addition to any pagan library.
If your journey is just getting started in the craft, or your path is well traveled, these well known pagan leaders offer insight to their own lifestyle and spiritality, with common ground being an affinity with nature.
The photos that accompany the interviews are brillant, with sharpness and clarity. Note: the Horned God was VERY inviting.
Only drawback, would have like to have seen more pagan authors/leaders being interviewed.
Average customer rating:
- A book that every child should read.
- Common Ground
- This book asks: To whom do the earth's resources belong?
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Common Ground: The Water, Earth, And Air We Share
Manufacturer: Blue Sky Press
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ASIN: 0590100564 |
Customer Reviews:
A book that every child should read........2001-05-29
With increasing concern over the exploitation of resources and the fairness of the useage, it is important for every child (and adult) to understand that there is a limit to the natural resources. This book is an entertaining and easy reading experience as well as educational. I am using this book with a day camp, it is that good. It gives good coverage to social consequences of inept management of common resources, as well as social remedies in a very simple and fun format for children. The art work is exceptional.
Common Ground.......2000-02-14
This is a beautifully illustrated book that asks important questions without "talking down" to children. The text explores environmental issues beginning with the common-shared ground in many early settlements. Starting with the problem of townspeople feeding too many sheep on the commons, resulting in a scarcity of grass, Bang goes on to the forests, seas, air, and water. She does not offer solutions, but poses questions that are open-ended and invite discussion. I am an art professor and volunteer as an elementary art teacher. I plan to use this book during Earth Week to teach an illustration unit on environmental issues to third graders. Bang's use of multiple baselines in her representation of the common ground is delightful and creates another interesting avenue for discussion with children. I'm never disappointed with a Bang book. I've been a fan since The Grey Lady and the Strawberry Snatcher. Common Ground does not disappoint!
This book asks: To whom do the earth's resources belong?.......1998-04-27
A thought-provoking allegory--with vivid, jewel-like illustrations--based on biologist Garrett Hardin's classic biology article (Science, 1968), "The Tragedy of the Commons," this book raises important stewardship questions regarding the earth's flora, fauna, and natural resouces. It also deftly implies that the answer is embedded in the Tale of the Commons. Insightful illustrations use cut-away and distorted aerial perspectives to amplify the text, and to provoke readers to always consider "the bigger picture" when taking action. Indeed, this book teaches children a very important ecology lesson in a visually enticing way! It should also be noted that this book won the 1998 GIVERNY AWARD for Best Children's Science Picture Book.
Average customer rating:
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Earth Day (Rookie Read-About Holidays)
Trudi Strain Trueit
Manufacturer: Children's Press (CT)
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Chanukah (Rookie Read-About Holidays)
ASIN: 0531118363 |
Customer Reviews:
Celebrating Earth Day Every Day.......2001-01-31
It was the first Earth Day, 1970, on the playground at a small school in a small town in the Midwest. My 3rd grade classmates and I spent our recess picking up trash to celebrate that day. I have been a teacher for 20 years and each and every day I have my students celebrate Earth Day by following the adage, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. This book helped give the students a perspective of how far we have come with the environment and how we think of it, and how far we have yet to go to protect our precious resources.
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Safeguarding The Environment (Campaigns for Change)
Sean Connolly
Manufacturer: Smart Apple Media
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ASIN: 1583405194 |
Book Description
Each book in the DK Readers series is specially crafted to suit the interests and learning stage of beginning readers. The five levels progress from easy-to-follow stories with simple sentences and word repetition to more sophisticated storylines, sentence structure, and vocabulary as children enjoy full-color photographs, sidebars and definition boxes, and lots of exciting information about the topics they love.
Average customer rating:
- The Case that the Environment is getting better
- great for me
- Generally very silly and misguided
- Finally some relief...
- Excellent large-scale review of environmental issues.
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A Moment on the Earth: The Coming Age of Environmental Optimism
Gregg Easterbrook
Manufacturer: Penguin (Non-Classics)
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ASIN: 0140154515 |
Amazon.com
This is a well-documented examination of the effects of human society on the global environment. Easterbrook's conclusion: Things are getting better, not worse. Not surprisingly, this book has generated considerable controversy in many circles of environmentalists and ecologists, and many of his arguments only apply to overly-developed nations. For example, he stumbles badly when dealing with tropical rainforests, completely ignoring the fact that clearcutting in tropical environments leads to essentially irreversible loss of soils and a sterile clay pan. But all in all, I recommend this book highly to everyone interested in the proper interpretation of long-term ecological trends. In my opinion, he is as often right as wrong, and habitual doomsday-sayers would do well to seriously consider and possibly adopt some of his positions on ecorealism.
Customer Reviews:
The Case that the Environment is getting better.......2004-02-03
Highly recommended for serious students of environmental policy. Easterbrook is one of the recognized experts - and founding thinkers - on environmental optimism. Whether you agree with him or not, this is a must-read.
great for me.......2003-12-02
I can see how those who are wrapped up in conservationism dislike this book, it shows them in a terrible light. If you think environmentalists are often histrionic and sanctimonious, you will like this book. If you think environmentalists are protecting what is truly sacred, you will find this book full of misinformed drivel.
Generally very silly and misguided.......2003-12-01
My sense from reading this book is neither that Easterbrook is a purposefully misleading, nor that he is particularly insightful. He is looking for an antitode to negativity that he seems to believe pervades the enrivonmental community.
But whether you agree with his perspective or not, the simple fact is he gets many facts completely wrong, and his arguments are logically flawed. A prime example is the arguments he makes against the need for having regulations on air quality: he points out that the air has gotten cleaner in the US over the last 30 years. Well, yes it has, but BECAUSE of the clean air act, not in spite of it.
There is no reason to be depressed about the environment, but nor is there any reason -- as Easterbrook would have us do -- to ignore it. If you want a balanced view, read the scientific literature, not the quasi-science of an naive journalist.
Finally some relief..........2003-10-18
Finally, there is a realistic view of the world. No longer does society have to feel "guilty" over all that has transpired since mankind began popluating the Mother Earth.
Every museum director in the U.S. should be forced to read Easterbook's book. Perhaps then our children will begin to realize that "man" is not the ultimate destruction machine as routinely promoted by environmentalists. Easterbrook's view is more closely aligned with the average U.S. working citizen..."let's act responsibly in our daily lives, just stop blaming me/us for the end-of-the-world crisis now rampant in the press". Only Easterbrook's widely-known and overused rant against SUV's is misplaced.(As if walking or hydrogen/electric cars will return us to the Garden of Eden).
I'd recommend this book to anyone looking to read beyond the news media's standard menu of "the end is near". While not a conclusive answer to all aspects of our world, it certainly gives a refreshing view to the "paper or plastic?" debate.
Excellent large-scale review of environmental issues........2000-10-09
Easterbrook may make a few errors and his writing style may not suit all, but I found this book to be enlightening and an excellent essay on the big picture in environmentalism today. While any single author is likely to stumble through a few issues when writing a book of this magnitude, I found the basis for his arguements in general to be sound, timely, and interesting.
I would recommend this book for anyone interested in environmental issues.
Books:
- The Naked Ape: A Zoologist's Study of the Human Animal
- The New Crusades: Constructing the Muslim Enemy
- The New Ruthless Economy: Work and Power in the Digital Age
- The Origin of Language: Tracing the Evolution of the Mother Tongue
- The Quest for Cosmic Justice
- The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature
- The Rise of Early Modern Science: Islam, China and the West
- The Science of Star Wars: An Astrophysicist's Independent Examination of Space Travel, Aliens, Planets, and Robots as Portrayed in the Star Wars Films and Books
- The Social Construction of What?
- The Sun, The Genome, and The Internet: Tools of Scientific Revolution (Nypl/Oup Lectures)
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Prime Obsession: Bernhard Riemann and the Greatest Unsolved Problem in Mathematics
The Millenium Problems: The Seven Greatest Unsolved Mathematical Puzzles of Our Time
Riemann's Zeta Function
The Riemann Hypothesis: The Greatest Unsolved Problem in Mathematics
Journey through Genius: The Great Theorems of Mathematics
