Il Meraviglioso Mondo Dei Numeri (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
A quite wonderful book, if a little erratic. It didn't do statistics quite enough credit, but that's my bias perhaps, statistics being a favourite of mine due to my scientific career choice. Bellos embellishes the mathematics with history and travel anecdotes which both lighten the tone and provide the glue that holds his explorations of e mathematical world together. He is perhaps a little too preoccupied with what his interviewees are wearing, providing a description of clothing choices almost every time. It became distracting after a while. I would have perhaps given the book 3 stars (enjoyable read but nothing special) if it wasn't for the last chapter. All it takes is a foray into infinity to get me excited and I'm a big fan of the 'Infinite Hotel' proof which Bellos details very neatly and probably better than I've read before. Ending your book with uncountable infinities gave you an extra star from me, Alex Bellos. Kudos. Fascinating read into the history and wonders of Mathematical discovery. A trip akin to Alice's journey into Wonderland: frightfully interesting, confusing and bizarre at times, but never a dull moment. The book takes you from the current day Munduruku tribe in the heart of Amazon who do not have words for numbers above 5, to Cantor's great mathematical breakthrough with infinities in the late 19th Century. Walked away with a newfound appreciation of the beauty of Mathematics and (dare I say it?) a near reverence for mathematicians.
What do You think about Il Meraviglioso Mondo Dei Numeri (2011)?
A rare book written about math that doesn't feel like the author can only write text books.
—Holly
Interesting albeit a little confusing in places!
—KayKay10194
More fun than math ever was in school.
—idreamofcamo
