100 Essential Things You Didn't Know You Didn't Know: Math Explains Your World

John D. Barrow

May 2010 · W. W. Norton & Company

About this ebook

“Where else does math become a romp, full of entertaining tricks and turns?”—Bryce Christensen, Booklist Have you ever considered why you always get stuck in the longest line? Why two’s company but three’s a crowd? Or why there are six degrees of separation instead of seven? In this hugely informative and endlessly entertaining book, John D. Barrow takes the most baffling of everyday phenomena and—with simple math, lucid explanations, and illustrations—explains why they work the way they do. His witty, crystal-clear answers shed light on the dark and shadowy corners of the physical world we all think we understand so well.

Ratings and reviews

I am an engineer and have taught math in high school. I enjoy reading, but found this book lacking in enough details to support some of the topics or to hold my attention. Specifically when he presents equations to support a premise, his derivations left me scratching my head and resorting to a pre-calculus textbook I had lying around. And even then, I couldn’t resolve the proof for some of the chapters. I also read his book about zero and even though the book jacket blurb peaked my interest, I found it hard to read.

I am very surprised at the reviews I have read regarding this book. Not because they are unfavorable rather I am confused as to WHY anyone would buy a book without first reading the available content on-line BEFORE ordering the entire book. You cannot be the brightest Engineer in the box, if you in fact did not take advantage of the free information!! Clearly, you have enough ability to use the internet and write a review, so I am wondering where the gap is? Further, to openly admit to your stupidity on-line for the world to see is even more puzzling...!!

About the author

John D. Barrow is professor of mathematical sciences and director of the Millennium Mathematics Project at Cambridge University, as well as a Fellow of the Royal Society. He is the best-selling author of many books on science and mathematics, including Mathletics: 100 Amazing Things You Didn’t Know about the World of Sports and 100 Essential Things You Didn’t Know You Didn’t Know: Math Explains Your World.