Comments on: The Math Book: From Pythagoras to the 57th Dimension, 250 Milestones in the History of Mathematics http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 22:23:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582916 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582916 Does anyone know if his chapter on the Pythagorean theorem includes the Chinese graphical proof that may have predated or been concurrent with Pythagoras? Does anyone know if his chapter on the Pythagorean theorem includes the Chinese graphical proof that may have predated or been concurrent with Pythagoras?

]]> By: Narmitaj http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582937 Narmitaj Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582937 Anonymous @ 10 - the book is on <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Math-Book-Clifford-Pickover/dp/1402757964">Amazon UK</a> already, though not yet available. It is also cheaper here than the US price - £9.99 (£10 off) vs $17.97 - plus it qualifies for Free Delivery (the barrier in the UK is a low £5 compared with the US $25). Of course, you might not be in the UK either. Keep watching the skies! Anonymous @ 10 – the book is on Amazon UK already, though not yet available.

It is also cheaper here than the US price – £9.99 (£10 off) vs $17.97 – plus it qualifies for Free Delivery (the barrier in the UK is a low £5 compared with the US $25). Of course, you might not be in the UK either. Keep watching the skies!

]]> By: Bugs http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582512 Bugs Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582512 This looks awesome. Not available yet in the UK, so I've pre-ordered. Maybe you can help me with something that I've wondered for a while: If I follow an affiliate link to amazon.com then navigate to .co.uk and buy the book, do you still get the affiliate commission? It seems like Amazon should be able to track me from .com to the same book at .co.uk by comparing cookies, referral headers or some other internet wizardy. Or is the jump between two different regions and TLDs too much for them to handle? I ask because there are a couple of US-based sites (BB included) that I'd like to support by using their affiliate links, but I have no idea whether they actually get credit for my purchases. This looks awesome. Not available yet in the UK, so I’ve pre-ordered.

Maybe you can help me with something that I’ve wondered for a while: If I follow an affiliate link to amazon.com then navigate to .co.uk and buy the book, do you still get the affiliate commission?

It seems like Amazon should be able to track me from .com to the same book at .co.uk by comparing cookies, referral headers or some other internet wizardy. Or is the jump between two different regions and TLDs too much for them to handle?

I ask because there are a couple of US-based sites (BB included) that I’d like to support by using their affiliate links, but I have no idea whether they actually get credit for my purchases.

]]> By: unruly katy http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582515 unruly katy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582515 Oh, be still my beating heart. I will have to give that to myself for Christmas and also to many other lovers of math pr0n. Oh, be still my beating heart. I will have to give that to myself for Christmas and also to many other lovers of math pr0n.

]]> By: Beanolini http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582516 Beanolini Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582516 <blockquote> mathematical principal </blockquote> <blockquote> Christian principles </blockquote> One of these is wrong. I look forward to seeing this book. Pickover's <a href="http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/pickover/pc/realitycarnival.html">Reality Carnival</a> blog is a great read too- simultaneously scientifically literate and completely deranged.

mathematical principal

Christian principles

One of these is wrong.

I look forward to seeing this book. Pickover’s Reality Carnival blog is a great read too- simultaneously scientifically literate and completely deranged.

]]> By: Tdawwg http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582526 Tdawwg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582526 You mean <i>both</i> of them are wrong (but for different reasons), Beanolini. :D I had a mathematical principal in HS, he was a real jerk with attendance, said he needed to "stick to the numbers...." You mean both of them are wrong (but for different reasons), Beanolini. :D

I had a mathematical principal in HS, he was a real jerk with attendance, said he needed to “stick to the numbers….”

]]> By: Tdawwg http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582528 Tdawwg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582528 And don't leave out those Christian principals, banning everything, like evolution and Lyell, that doesn't meet with their Christian principles. /dumb puns And don’t leave out those Christian principals, banning everything, like evolution and Lyell, that doesn’t meet with their Christian principles.

/dumb puns

]]> By: zebbart http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-688517 zebbart Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-688517 Got it for Christmas and I am somewhat disappointed. There are more technical terms and symbols than I expected - I would not recommend it as a way to open the mystery and beauty of math to a person who 'doesn't have a head for numbers.' Worst of all, the many of the images are of terrible quality, and about half the book is pictures. Got it for Christmas and I am somewhat disappointed. There are more technical terms and symbols than I expected – I would not recommend it as a way to open the mystery and beauty of math to a person who ‘doesn’t have a head for numbers.’ Worst of all, the many of the images are of terrible quality, and about half the book is pictures.

]]> By: knodi http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582533 knodi Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582533 I had never heard of Hypatia before reading this article summary. The Wikipedia page was very interesting, but for those who don't like to waste their time <i>reading</i>, it turns out there's a movie about her coming out this year: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agora_%28film%29 I had never heard of Hypatia before reading this article summary. The Wikipedia page was very interesting, but for those who don’t like to waste their time reading, it turns out there’s a movie about her coming out this year:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agora_%28film%29

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582535 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582535 I'll be happy to take all those unwanted books off your hands. You're very fortunate! I’ll be happy to take all those unwanted books off your hands. You’re very fortunate!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582538 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582538 I second the UK guy who muses about referrals across country specific links. Give me links to the English book section on the German Amazon and I will happily give back that way. I second the UK guy who muses about referrals across country specific links. Give me links to the English book section on the German Amazon and I will happily give back that way.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582539 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582539 Yay for Pickover! He's one of the few people I wholeheartedly consider "inspiring" - as most of his writing is. Yay for Pickover! He’s one of the few people I wholeheartedly consider “inspiring” – as most of his writing is.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582542 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582542 I went straight to Amazon to try and buy this book but sadly it seems to be USA only. The P&P coupled with tax would sadly cost more than the actual book so here's hoping for a worldwide release. I went straight to Amazon to try and buy this book but sadly it seems to be USA only. The P&P coupled with tax would sadly cost more than the actual book so here’s hoping for a worldwide release.

]]> By: arkizzle / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582543 arkizzle / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582543 This looks great! Bugs, I just checked the Amazon Affiliate page, and it looks like you have to sign up to each Amazon TLD (.com/.co.uk/.ie) individually. I'll try find out if this is implemented yet. This looks great!

Bugs, I just checked the Amazon Affiliate page, and it looks like you have to sign up to each Amazon TLD (.com/.co.uk/.ie) individually. I’ll try find out if this is implemented yet.

]]> By: Roach http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582544 Roach Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582544 Unfotunately, there is absolutely zero evidence that Hypatia's death had anything to do with her lack of Christianity. Instead, she was caught in a power struggle between two different Christian leaders. The myth seems to have originated in the Enlightenment desire to invent the conflict thesis. Here's an extensive post on the reality of what happened to Hypatia (it's by an atheist, for those who like to go after the source instead of the material): http://armariummagnus.blogspot.com/2009/05/agora-and-hypatia-hollywood-strikes.html With the opening of Agora, considering what Hollywood generally does with history, the myth will probably be even harder to eradicate. Unfotunately, there is absolutely zero evidence that Hypatia’s death had anything to do with her lack of Christianity. Instead, she was caught in a power struggle between two different Christian leaders. The myth seems to have originated in the Enlightenment desire to invent the conflict thesis.

Here’s an extensive post on the reality of what happened to Hypatia (it’s by an atheist, for those who like to go after the source instead of the material):

http://armariummagnus.blogspot.com/2009/05/agora-and-hypatia-hollywood-strikes.html

With the opening of Agora, considering what Hollywood generally does with history, the myth will probably be even harder to eradicate.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-583570 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-583570 Made for a great graduation present for my daughter's math nerd boyfriend. Unbelievable book - awesome. Gave it to him about two weeks ago for and was completely stoked. I turned him on to Cliff's websites and now he's a fan. I ordered it back in the spring so I got the pre-order deal from Amazon. The book is massive so the price I thought was way too low, even for pre-order pricing. Cliff's something else, isn't he? Made for a great graduation present for my daughter’s math nerd boyfriend. Unbelievable book – awesome. Gave it to him about two weeks ago for and was completely stoked. I turned him on to Cliff’s websites and now he’s a fan. I ordered it back in the spring so I got the pre-order deal from Amazon. The book is massive so the price I thought was way too low, even for pre-order pricing.
Cliff’s something else, isn’t he?

]]> By: semiotix http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582550 semiotix Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582550 <i>The myth seems to have originated in the Enlightenment desire to invent the conflict thesis.</i> Careful, Roach. You don't want people to think you don't completely support the notion that science and religion are polar opposites, utterly incompatible, neurologically mutually exclusive, and completely and eternally in open warfare in every facet of human existence. The myth seems to have originated in the Enlightenment desire to invent the conflict thesis.

Careful, Roach. You don’t want people to think you don’t completely support the notion that science and religion are polar opposites, utterly incompatible, neurologically mutually exclusive, and completely and eternally in open warfare in every facet of human existence.

]]> By: technogeek http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582555 technogeek Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582555 I've liked what Cliff has done in the past, and he's a nice guy besides. Thanks for letting me know he has another one out. (Hey, are we still allowed to post non-metadiscussion?) I’ve liked what Cliff has done in the past, and he’s a nice guy besides. Thanks for letting me know he has another one out.

(Hey, are we still allowed to post non-metadiscussion?)

]]> By: Roach http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582586 Roach Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582586 Right, Semiotix. Sorry. The book itself sounds cool. I'm a moderate math nerd. I just thought it was weird that that was the only one Mark picked to explain, not any of the actual math ones. Right, Semiotix. Sorry.

The book itself sounds cool. I’m a moderate math nerd. I just thought it was weird that that was the only one Mark picked to explain, not any of the actual math ones.

]]> By: D3 http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582846 D3 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582846 Thanks for the link, Roach. You and others like you make the comments essential reading. Thanks for the link, Roach. You and others like you make the comments essential reading.

]]> By: kaini http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582598 kaini Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582598 cliff was the reason i finally gave in and downloaded twitter. his tweets at #pickover are always fascinating. his reality carnival site is pretty unique too :) http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/Pickover/pc/realitycarnival.html cliff was the reason i finally gave in and downloaded twitter. his tweets at #pickover are always fascinating.

his reality carnival site is pretty unique too :)
http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/Pickover/pc/realitycarnival.html

]]> By: LSK http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582600 LSK Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582600 This is the sort of book I want to buy for any kids I may have. It seems like a great entry point into mathematical curiosity. This is the sort of book I want to buy for any kids I may have. It seems like a great entry point into mathematical curiosity.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582865 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582865 Today, the Neatorama Blog provides a long review of the book and give additional perspectives and illustrations: http://www.neatorama.com/2009/09/08/the-math-book-milestones-in-the-history-of-math/ Today, the Neatorama Blog provides a long review of the book and give additional perspectives and illustrations:

http://www.neatorama.com/2009/09/08/the-math-book-milestones-in-the-history-of-math/

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582610 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582610 More information on "The Math Book" is at the site below (including Table of Contents and sample images): http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/pickover/math-book.html More information on “The Math Book” is at the site below (including Table of Contents and sample images):

http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/pickover/math-book.html

]]> By: Mark Dow http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582622 Mark Dow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582622 Buy it for kids you don't have too. It is beautiful, in several ways. Each one page topic is worth thinking about, and Pickover doesn't shy away from an explanatory equation. It is a great collection of clean math art and graphics too. (He used an illustration of mine, for the Thue-Morse sequence. There's not any book I'd rather be represented in.) Buy it for kids you don’t have too. It is beautiful, in several ways. Each one page topic is worth thinking about, and Pickover doesn’t shy away from an explanatory equation.

It is a great collection of clean math art and graphics too. (He used an illustration of mine, for the Thue-Morse sequence. There’s not any book I’d rather be represented in.)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582623 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582623 Rudy Rucker discusses "The Math Book" here: http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2009/08/28/pseudospheres/ Rudy Rucker discusses “The Math Book” here:

http://www.rudyrucker.com/blog/2009/08/28/pseudospheres/

]]> By: querent http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582630 querent Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582630 awesome. math nerd here. been looking for a cool book for kids. this would be great, maybe in conjunction with a puzzle book. plus, i want it. it would be cool if it was a big coffee table book. awesome. math nerd here. been looking for a cool book for kids. this would be great, maybe in conjunction with a puzzle book.

plus, i want it. it would be cool if it was a big coffee table book.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/09/07/the-math-book-from-p.html#comment-582632 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-582632 hot math pron video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ2Fw-mS8c0 hot math pron video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZ2Fw-mS8c0

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