- Paperback: 232 pages
- Publisher: Scholarly Book Services Inc; New edition edition (Jun 27 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0813528984
- ISBN-13: 978-0813528984
- Product Dimensions: 2.4 x 1.5 x 0.2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 399 g
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #2,257,345 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Library Journal
After Zebrowski's well-received Perils of a Restless Planet (LJ 7/97), this new book is a disappointment. Only partially about circles, the text aims "to examine [for the general reader] the broader relationship between mathematical reasoning and the physical universe." Most of the physical examples are common ones, from historical models of the solar system to relativity theory, which standard physics and astronomy texts explain better and just as engagingly. An exception is an intriguing discussion of some techniques used in the construction of the pyramids. The level of exposition varies greatly: a whole chapter is devoted to the elementary relationships of linear dimension, area, and volume, whereas the discussion of wave phenomena uses partial differential equations. There are occasional errors, such as the statement that a neutron star comprises "billions of protons and neutrons," and curious terminology: the list of regular polyhedra repeatedly includes the hexahedron rather than the cube. The endnotes provide appropriate suggestions for further reading, some popular, some scholarly. For larger public libraries.AKristine Fowler, Mathematics Lib., Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"Substantiated by easy-to-follow mathematical reasoning and clear illustrations...interesting discussion[s] of the circle in technology, culture, history, and science." -- Zentralblatt für Didaktik der Mathematik
"The book is rich in history, which is carefully integrated into the discussions, and it includes wonderful illustrations and stories." -- The Mathematics Teacher
"Zebrowski is a wonderful storyteller..." -- Choice
"The book is rich in history, which is carefully integrated into the discussions, and it includes wonderful illustrations and stories." -- The Mathematics Teacher
"Zebrowski is a wonderful storyteller..." -- Choice
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars (5 customer reviews)
43 of 45 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A DECIDEDLY PLEASANT JOURNEY INTO THE WORLD OF SCIENCE, Jan 22 2000
By Kathleen Werner Millward - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: A History of the Circle: Mathematical Reasoning and the Physical Universe (Hardcover)
The beauty of Ernest Zebrowski's book, A HISTORY OF THE CIRCLE, is that it was written for everyone, not just for science professors. The author never talks down to his readers. Clearly, Mr. Zebrowski is not just a superb scientist and mathematician: he is also a skilled writer, teacher, philospher, and historian. Like Lewis Thomas, he has a wonderful way of making science come alive. He transports you back into time and makes you feel as if you are right there watching some of the most intriging moments in human history unfold before your eyes. I learned so much from reading this book. You can pick up any chapter at random and find yourself captivated by a fascinating anecdote, a compelling biographical sketch, a thought-provoking question, or a delightful little tidbit of information. The author made me think about things I have never thought about before. Reading this book has given me a newfound appreciation for the importance of the circle as well as a newfound respect for the truly remarkable feats of our early scientists, mathematicians, and architects. So whether you're learning about the life of Albert Einstein or the death of Archimedes; whether you're trying to figure out why old fenceposts were deliberately spaced 9.417 feet apart or how how the ancient Egyptians could have possibly managed to erect thousands of 20-ton blocks 48 stories high; or whether you are discovering that an experienced hunter is often smarter than a computer or that terrified peasants rioted when the Gregorian calendar was adopted because they believed that the pope was actually stealing 10 days of their lives...you will enjoy reading, or even just skimming, A HISTORY OF THE CIRCLE. This book will change the way you look at nature: you will see things you never saw before. It might even change the way you look at yourself. I was delighted to discover, for example, that I was made of stardust, but I must say it was a bit unsettling to learn that I am now a tad older than the sun which, according to Mr. Zebrowski, is "barely middle-aged."
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just what I was looking for (and I didn't even know it!), Dec 7 2000
By Autodidact Andy "IndiAndy" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: A History of the Circle: Mathematical Reasoning and the Physical Universe (Hardcover)
What a delightful discovery! This book served to effortlessly broaden my knowledge about applied mathematics. I have to recommend this book to all - and especially towards those, like myself, who are frustrated with our own mathematical ignorance... I am a bit of a compulsive book buyer and I don't always make an effort to read each book in my huge collection. I'm very happy I made the time to thoroughly read this one!
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Looking For Pi Info? Its Not Here., July 15 2001
By Wayne - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: A History of the Circle: Mathematical Reasoning and the Physical Universe (Hardcover)
The first chapter BREIFLY addresses pi, so this not a good source for those of you that may have drawn the same conclusions about the title that I did. However, if you've ever wondered why there are 360 degrees in a circle and how that relates to time or other interesting trivia, this is a great source. I do recomend it to anyone with an intrest in the basic concepts of Physics which somehow work themseves in everywhere. The title would be more acurate if it removed "A History of the Circle" and just left it with "Mathmatical Reasoning and the Physical Universe" because it lacks far to much of the first subject.
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