Mathematics 2014
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Mathematics 2014 press.princeton.edu Contents General Interest 1 Princeton Puzzlers 9 Biography 10 History & Philosophy of Science 11 Princeton Graduate & Undergraduate Textbooks 14 Mathematical Sciences 18 Primers in Complex Systems 19 Princeton Series in Applied Mathematics 20 Annals of Mathematics Studies 21 Princeton Mathematical Series 23 Mathematical Notes 24 London Mathematical Society Monographs 24 Index | Order Form 25 Cover illustration by Marcella Engel Roberts New With a foreword by Persi Diaconis and an afterword by James Randi Undiluted Hocus-Pocus The Autobiography of Martin Gardner Martin Gardner “Informative, original, unexpected, and always charmingly written with his uniquely subtle sense of fun, this nal autobiographical work of Martin Gardner, Undiluted Hocus-Pocus, sums up his own life and opinions, in the way that has become so familiar and inspirational to us from his well-known writings on puzzles, mathematics, philosophy, and the oddities of the world.” —Roger Penrose, author of Cycles of Time: An Extraordinary New View of the Universe Martin Gardner wrote the Mathematical Games column for Scienti c “For half a century, Martin Gardner American for twenty- ve years and published more than seventy books (1914–2010) was an international on topics as diverse as magic, philosophy, religion, pseudoscience, and scienti c treasure. Gardner’s Alice in Wonderland. His informal, recreational approach to mathematics passion for writing and his warmth delighted countless readers and inspired many to pursue careers in and humour shine forth on every mathematics and the sciences. Gardner’s illuminating autobiography page of this book, making it a is a disarmingly candid self-portrait of the man evolutionary theorist memoir of a great human being.” Stephen Jay Gould called our “single brightest beacon” for the defense of —David Singmaster, Nature rationality and good science against mysticism and anti-intellectualism. “In summary, I give this book the Gardner takes readers from his childhood in Oklahoma to his college highest praise that I can possibly days at the University of Chicago, his service in the navy, and his varied give an autobiography: it was and wide-ranging professional pursuits. Before becoming a columnist much too short.” for Scienti c American, he was a caseworker in Chicago during the Great —Charles Ashbacher, MAA Reviews Depression, a reporter for the Tulsa Tribune, an editor for Humpty Dumpty, “Martin Gardner was the most and a short-story writer for Esquire, among other jobs. Gardner shares learned man I have ever met. He colorful anecdotes about the many fascinating people he met and wrote articles and books for math- mentored, and voices strong opinions on the subjects that matter to ematicians, magicians, and puzzle him most, from his love of mathematics to his uncompromising stance lovers, and he didn’t even get against pseudoscience. For Gardner, our mathematically structured quantum mechanics wrong! Now universe is undiluted hocus-pocus—a marvelous enigma, in other words. you can read how this amazing Undiluted Hocus-Pocus o ers a rare, intimate look at Gardner’s life and man came to be so amazing.” work, and the experiences that shaped both. —John Conway, John von Neumann Distinguished Professor 2013. 288 pages. 54 halftones. Emeritus, Princeton University Cl: 978-0-691-15991-1 $24.95 | £16.95 To receive notices about new books, subscribe for e-mail at: press.princeton.edu/subscribe press.princeton.edu general interest • 1 Forthcoming Forthcoming Forthcoming Math Bytes Everyday Calculus Count Like an Egyptian Google Bombs, Chocolate- Discovering the Hidden Math A Hands-on Introduction to Covered Pi, and Other Cool All around Us Ancient Mathematics Bits in Computing Oscar E. Fernandez David Reimer Tim Chartier Calculus. For some of us, the “Count Like an Egyptian is well writ- “Readable and fun. There are few word conjures up memories of ten and entertaining. This book lls books like this one that engage ten-pound textbooks and visions a void in popular science writing with mathematics at this level of of tedious abstract equations. on Egyptian mathematics.” accessibility and tie into real-world And yet, in reality, calculus is —Annette Imhausen, section contexts in a humorous yet rigor- fun, accessible, and surrounds us author of The Mathematics of Egypt, ous way. Math Bytes reinforces the everywhere we go. Mesopotamia, China, India, and excitement of mathematics and its In Everyday Calculus, Oscar Fernan- Islam: A Sourcebook relevance to modern culture.” dez uses our everyday experiences The mathematics of ancient Egypt —Peter McOwan, Queen Mary, to skillfully reveal the hidden was fundamentally di erent from University of London calculus behind a typical day’s our math today. Contrary to what This book provides a fun, hands-on events. He guides us through how people might think, it wasn’t a approach to learning how math- math naturally emerges from sim- primitive forerunner of modern ematics and computing relate to ple observations—how hot co ee mathematics. In fact, it can’t be the world around us and help us cools down, for example—and in understood using our current com- to better understand it. How can discussions of over fty familiar putational methods. Count Like an reposting on Twitter kill a movie’s events and activities. Fernandez Egyptian provides a fun, hands-on opening weekend? How can you demonstrates that calculus can introduction to the intuitive and use mathematics to nd your be used to explore practically any often-surprising art of ancient celebrity look-alike? What is Homer aspect of our lives, including the Egyptian math. David Reimer Simpson’s method for disproving most e ective number of hours to guides you step-by-step through Fermat’s Last Theorem? Each topic sleep and the fastest route to get addition, subtraction, multiplica- in this refreshingly inviting book to work. He also shows that calcu- tion, and more. He even shows illustrates a famous mathematical lus can be both useful—determin- you how fractions and decimals algorithm or result—such as Goo- ing which seat at the theater leads may have been calculated—they gle’s PageRank and the traveling to the best viewing experience, technically didn’t exist in the land salesman problem—and the appli- for instance—and fascinating— of the pharaohs. You’ll be counting cations grow more challenging as exploring topics such as time like an Egyptian in no time, and you progress through the chapters. travel and the age of the universe. along the way you’ll learn rsthand But don’t worry, helpful solutions Throughout, Fernandez presents how mathematics is an expression are provided each step of the way. straightforward concepts, and no of the culture that uses it, and why May 2014. 160 pages. 89 color illus. prior mathematical knowledge is there’s more to math than rote 19 halftones. 20 line illus. 10 tables. required. For advanced math fans, memorization and bewildering Cl: 978-0-691-16060-3 $24.95 | £16.95 the mathematical derivations are abstraction. included in the appendixes. May 2014. 272 pages. 301 color illus. Cl: 978-0-691-16012-2 $29.95 | £19.95 May 2014. 176 pages. 47 line illus. 1 table. Cl: 978-0-691-15755-9 $24.95 | £16.95 2 • general interest Forthcoming New New Paperback Wizards, Aliens, and Beautiful Geometry Trigonometric Delights Starships Eli Maor & Eugen Jost Eli Maor Physics and Math in Fantasy “Beautiful Geometry teaches and “[Maor] writes enthusiastically and and Science Fiction delights with its marriage of art engagingly. Delightful reading Charles L. Adler and mathematics. The lovely illus- from cover to cover. Trigonometric “Wizards, Aliens, and Starships trations range from conversation Delights is a welcome addition.” rigorously applies the principles of starters to dazzling Proofs Without —Sean Bradley, MAA Online physics to concepts, plot devices, Words—clever diagrams that “Maor clearly has a great love of and other features of science explain why something is true. A trigonometry, formulas and all, and ction and fantasy books, lms, feast for the eye and mind.” his enthusiasm shines through.” and television series. Readers who —Frank Farris, Santa Clara —Ian Stewart, New Scientist follow Adler’s carefully developed University Princeton Science Library analyses will learn a great deal “This book shows that math is 2013. 256 pages. 104 line illus. about familiar science ction more than theorems and proofs— Pa: 978-0-691-15820-4 $18.95 | £12.95 tropes, physics, and how scientists it is full of history, philosophy, and think about the world. An excep- glimpses of di erent cultures. I Also by Eli Maor tional book.” was immediately attracted by the Honorable Mention, 2007 Award for —A. Bowdoin Van Riper, author of Best Professional/Scholarly Book in book’s intriguing and beautiful Mathematics, Association of American Science in Popular Culture illustrations, and once I started Publishers From teleportation and space reading the text, I could not stop The Pythagorean elevators to alien contact and following its fascinating stories Theorem interstellar travel, science ction about the origins of geometrical A 4,000-Year History and fantasy writers have come up theorems.” “This excellent biography of the with some brilliant and innovative —Carlo H. Séquin, University of theorem is like a history of thought ideas. Yet how plausible are these California, Berkeley written in lines and circles, moving ideas—for instance, could Mr. If you’ve ever thought that from ancient clay tablets to Ein- Weasley’s ying car in Harry Potter mathematics and art don’t mix, stein’s blackboards.” really exist? Which concepts might this stunning visual history of ge- —Ben Longsta , New Scientist actually happen—and which ones ometry will change your mind. As Princeton Science Library wouldn’t work at all? Wizards, much a work of art as a book about 2010.