A Beautiful Mind
By Sylvia Nasar
A biography of the game theorist John Forbes Nash. This book formed the basis of the Hollwood film. One of my all time favourite biographies.
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The Universe and the Teacup
By K.C. Cole
The mathematics of truth and beauty. An elegant study of the way mathematics can provide solutions to everyday problems.
The Number Sense
By Stanislas Dehaene
How the mind creates mathematics. “Not a book about mathematics itself, but rather about how the brain deals with numbers”.
What is Mathematics, Really?
By Reuben Hersh
“A thought-provoking investigation into the philosophy of mathematics”.
The Man Who Loved Only Numbers
By Paul Hoffman
The story of Paul Erdos and the search for mathematical truth. Perhaps my favourite biography of a mathematician.
1089, and all that
By David Acheson
A lovely little book that provides a mini tour of many mathematical gems. Discover the magic of 1089 and the mathematics behind the Indian rope trick.
Once Upon a Number
By John Allen Paulos
Paulos focuses on stories that revolve around mathematics. These stories provide an ideal environment for non-mathematicians to encounter mathematical ideas and examine them in comfort, without the fear usually associated with the subject.
What are the Chances?
By Bart K. Holland
Take a trip into the world of probability, and the influences it may already be having in your everyday life.
Ian Stewart’s Books
Ian Stewart is one of the most prolific and accessible writers on mathematics. Here are some of his most popular books:
Life’s Other Secret
A guide into some of the fascinating links between
mathematics and nature.
Find out more…Does God Play Dice?
An exploration of the mathematics of chaos.
Figments of Reality
A delve into the world of evolution and mind theory.
From Here to Infinity
An interesting and accessible account of current mathematical topics.
The Magical Maze
Stewart uses a maze theme to explain the intricate connections between fields in popular mathematics, from game theory to knots to chaos.
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Martin Gardner’s Books
One of the best-loved authors of mathematics books.
Here are some of his most popular titles:The Colossal Book of Mathematics
Gardner has collected articles from his 25-year old archive of Scientific American articles. The result is this amazing compendium.
Classic Brainteasers
A collection of favourite puzzles and games.
Entertaining Mathematical Puzzles
Some excellent games and riddles to lose yourself in.
Penrose Tiles to Trapdoor Ciphers
Another inspired collection of articles from Gardner’s Scientific American column.
The Wizard of Oz and Who He Was
Gardner edited this critical appraisal of the children’s classic by L.F. Baum.
The Unexpected Hanging and Other Mathematical Diversions
Puzzles and anecdotes from the world of popular science.
Mathematical Puzzles of Sam Loyd
A compilation of some of the most amazing and infuriating games and riddles, created by one of America’s leading puzzle experts.
Dover Mathematics Books
This publisher has an excellent reputation for their wide range of mathematics books. Here are just a few of their most popular titles:
100 Great Problems of Elementary Mathematics
By Heinrich D-Orrie
A puzzle book that has lost none of its ingenuity in its translation from French to English.A Concise History of Mathematics
By Dirk Jan Struik
An interesting and accessible guide to some of the greatest mathematicians and the remarkable findings they have made.History of Greek Mathematics From Thales to Euclid
By Thomas L. Heath
An excellent reference guide.History of Greek Mathematics From Aristarchus to Diophantus
By Thomas L. Heath
The second volume of the History of Greek Mathematics Guide.Short Account of the History of Mathematics
By W. W. Rouse Ball
Last re-printed in 1908, this is an authoritative account of the history of mathematics.Foundations and Fundamental Concepts of Mathematics
By Howard W. Eves
An interesting, accessible and thorough account.Games, Gods and Gambling
By F. N. David
A study into the history of statistics.
A Mathematician Reads the Newspapers
By John Allen Paulos
Paulos investigates and explains the hidden mathematics behind everyday media stories.The Man Who Knew Infinity
By Robert Kanigel
A biography of the brilliant Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan.Chaos
By James Gleick
A very human and readable account of the study of chaos, from the science writer of the New York Times.Universal History Of Numbers
Georges Ifrah
Ifrah’s account of the history of numbers is an immense treasure trove of mathematical ideas dating back to the invention of numbers.Zero
By Charles Seife
An account of one of the simplest, yet most complicated of ideas in mathematics – the number zero.E: The Story of a Number
By Eli Maor
The E in question refers to the base for natural logarithms. Mathematician Moar turns every student’s nightmare into an enjoyable and interesting read.The Golden Ratio
By Mario Livio
This is one of the first accounts of the never-ending number phi, also known as the Golden Ratio, a figure found throughout the laws of nature.Pi In The Sky
By John Barrow
A lively account of the number Pi, from leading cosmologist and science writer John Barrow.Book of Nothing
By John Barrow
Barrow’s study on the impact of ‘nothing’ in the fields of cosmology, physics, mathematics and theology.Mathematics: New Golden Age
By Keith Devlin
An account of major mathematical accomplishments since the 1960’s.Mathematics: The Science of Patterns
By Keith Devlin
Devlin explains and investigates patterns in number sequences that have led to the further evolution of mathematical research.A Mathematician’s Apology
By G.H. Hardy
A poignant, moving book by the brilliant mathematician G.H. Hardy, as he grew older in ‘a young mans field’. An account of his life and his passion for mathematics.The Mathematical Experience
By Philip J. Davis & Reuben Hersh
Davis and Hersh argue mathematics to be a combination of luck and guesswork, and should be thought of as a human, rather than a physical science.Flatland
By Edwin A. Abbott
This classic fantasy novel published in 1880 explores a flat world where all the inhabitants live in two physical dimensions. The book follows a Flatlands dweller who shockingly discovers the existence of a third dimension.
Also available to read online at Caltech.The Joy of Pi
By David Blatner
A funny, quirky and fascinating account of the history of Pi.Hypatia’s Heritage
By Margaret Alic
Alongside Hypatia, Alic discusses the valuable contributions made by other female mathematicians and scientists throughout history.How Long Is A Piece of String
By R. Eastaway
A clever, contemporary book about some of the mathematical theories that affect everyday life – from how to win ‘Who wants to be a Millionaire’ to how to write a hit song.Why Do Buses Come In Threes?
By J. Wyndham, R. Eastaway, T. Rice.
Another well written account of modern mathematical theory and its applications. Learn the Ham Sandwich Theorem, and how fast you should run in the rain to stay the driest.The Man Who Counted
By Malba Tahan
A fine mix of story-telling and mathematics, Tahan tells the tale of an Arabian man who dispenses his mathematical knowledge on his travels across the globe.Archimedes Revenge
By Paul Hoffman
A look at the theories involved in modern mathematics.Curious and Interesting Numbers
By David Wells
A thorough and comprehensive listing of numbers from the square root of -1 to lucky numbers.Curious and Interesting Geometry
By David Wells & John Sharp
A fascinating insight into the world of geometry.Statistically Speaking
By Carl C. Gaither
A dictionary of statistical quotations, from Shakespeare and Abraham Lincoln to eminent statisticians such as John Tukey.Oxford Concise Dictionary of Mathematics
By Christopher Clapham
An invaluable guide to the language of mathematics.Statistics Without Tears
By Derek Rowntree
An excellent introductory text to a much misunderstood area of mathematics.Randomness
By Deborah J. Bennett
A pocket-sized book on probability and statistics.Reckoning with Risk
By Gerd Gigerenzer
A cautionary look at the application and misuse of statistics.