The Art of More
how mathematics created civilisation
by Michael Brooks
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Pub Date 31 Aug 2021 | Archive Date 31 Jul 2021
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Description
Bestselling science writer Michael Brooks takes us on a fascinating journey through the history of civilisation, as he explains why maths is fundamental to our understanding of the world.
1, 2, 3 … ? The human brain isn’t wired for maths; beyond the number 3, it just sees ‘more’. So why bother learning it at all?
You might remember studying geometry, calculus, and algebra at school, but you probably didn’t realise — or weren’t taught — that these are the roots of art, architecture, government, and almost every other aspect of our civilisation. The mathematics of triangles enabled explorers to travel far across the seas and astronomers to map the heavens. Calculus won the Allies the Second World War and halted the HIV epidemic. And the mysterious Pi is one of the essential building blocks of the 21st century.
From ancient Egyptian priests to the Apollo astronauts, and Babylonian tax collectors to the MIT professor who invented juggling robots, join Michael Brooks and his extraordinarily eccentric cast of characters in discovering how maths shaped the world.
A Note From the Publisher
Please note that this version of the text is not final.
Advance Praise
‘Ambitious.’
Tom Gatti, New Statesman
‘At school, many of us wondered about the point of geometry, calculus and algebra. Brooks shows how the childhood question “What’s the point of this?” can be reframed: esoteric concepts such as imaginary numbers, cryptography and the semi-mystical digits of pi are revealed to be the essential building blocks of the 21st century.’
Liz Else and Simon Ings, New Scientist
‘How brilliant of Michael Brooks to be able to reignite my almost-forgotten childhood love of mathematics. Written with beauty, style, and care for the history as well as for the science. A tour de force.’
Angela Saini, author of Superior: The Return of Race Science
‘Michael Brooks has written the formula that reduces to near zero any sense that maths could be a dull subject to study. The Art of More brings to life in accessible, lively terms how maths helps us navigate pandemics, space travel, and encrypted apps — all while celebrating the complicated and fascinating characters, from Euclid to Florence Nightingale, who have pushed our knowledge forward. Why isn’t school maths taught like this?’
David Rowan, founding editor-in-chief WIRED UK and author of Non-Bullshit Innovation
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781922586209 |
| PRICE | A$32.99 (AUD) |
| PAGES | 336 |
