Math Without Numbers

(Paperback)

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Description

A witty, illustrated tour of the structures and patterns of mathematics from a math prodigy The only numbers in this book are the page numbers. Math Without Numbers is a vivid and wholly original guide to the three main branches of abstract math - topology, analysis, and algebra - which turn out to be surprisingly easy to grasp. Milo Beckerman upends the conventional approach to mathematics, inviting you to think creatively about shape and dimension, the infinite and infinitesimal, symmetries, proofs, and how these concepts all fit together. How many shapes are there Is anything bigger than infinity And can mathematics even be described as 'true'

Reviews

Genius: an entire book about mathematics in which the only digits are the page numbers. . . fresh, delightful and extremely accessible -- Alex Bellos * Guardian *
Beckman's book is not only fascinating and enthralling but also one I actually kept my eyes open long enough to finish (in part because - and this is a massively underrated virtue in popular science books - it is short) -- Tom Whipple * The Times *
This guide to the maths we didn't get taught at school is full of fascinating revelations -- Manjit Kumar * The Times *
I was hooked. . . what is delightful about the book is the vivid clarity -- Tim Harford
A cheerful, chatty, and charming trip through the world of mathematics and its relation to the world of people - and not a number in sight! Everyone should read this delightful book. Even mathematicians -- Ian Stewart, author of Do Dice Play God
One of those wonderful books you'll want to tell everyone about -- Ananyo Bhattacharya, author of The Man from the Future
So delightful! Mathematics is playful, surprising, and enchanting, but those qualities are often obscured behind intimidating equations and formalism. Milo Beckman brings them out into the open for everyone to share. -- Sean Carroll, author of Something Deeply Hidden
With charm, unwavering enthusiasm, and a lot of cartoons, Math Without Numbers waltzes the reader through a garden of higher mathematics -- Jordan Ellenberg, author of How Not To Be Wrong
Math Without Numbers explores deep mathematical topics -- and shows how mathematicians think-in completely readable prose. The puzzles and games are bonuses. Very enjoyable -- Will Shortz, crossword editor, The New York Times
A playful paean to the pleasures of studying higher math ... readers with an abundance of curiosity and the time to puzzle over Beckman's many examples, riddles, and questions, will make many fascinating discoveries * Publishers Weekly *
The book's accessible language and illustrations makes understanding some of the most complex (and possibly most intimidating) math concepts feel as effortless as breathing. Beckman's approachable writing and Erazo's delightful illustration combine to tell an insightful and entertaining story about math -- Giorgia Lupi and Stefanie Posavec, co-authors of Dear Data
This is the book for you if you've ever been curious about the wonderful ideas and concepts underlying modern math, but been too frightened to make a start. Milo Beckman gives us a friendly introduction to unfamiliar concepts and ideas that show why modern math is such a fascinating and rewarding branch of human thought -- Graham Farmelo, author of The Universe Speaks in Numbers
Math Without Numbers offers an accessible and whimsically illustrated glimpse of what pure mathematicians study, all while capturing the playful spirit with which they do it -- Grant Sanderson, creator of 3blue1brown

Author Bio

Milo Beckman is a maths prodigy from New York. His diverse projects and independent research have been featured in the The New York Times, FiveThirtyEight, the Huffington Post, Business Insider, the Economist, and others. He worked for three tech companies, two banks, and a US Senator before retiring at age nineteen to teach math in New York, China, and Brazil, and to write.