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Is God a Mathematician? - by Mario Livio (Paperback)

Name: Is God a Mathematician? - by Mario Livio (Paperback)
Brand: Simon & Schuster
SKU: 81922643
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Details

Highlights

Bestselling author and astrophysicist Mario Livio examines the lives and theories of history's greatest mathematicians to ask how--if mathematics is an abstract construction of the human mind--it can so perfectly explain the physical world.Nobel Laureate Eugene Wigner once wondered about "the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics" in the formulation of the laws of nature.
Author(s): Mario Livio
320 Pages
Mathematics, History & Philosophy

Description

About the Book

This fascinating exploration of the great discoveries of history's most important mathematicians seeks an answer to the eternal question: Does mathematics hold the key to understanding the mysteries of the physical world? Illustrations throughout.

Book Synopsis

Bestselling author and astrophysicist Mario Livio examines the lives and theories of history's greatest mathematicians to ask how--if mathematics is an abstract construction of the human mind--it can so perfectly explain the physical world.Nobel Laureate Eugene Wigner once wondered about "the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics" in the formulation of the laws of nature. Is God a Mathematician? investigates why mathematics is as powerful as it is. From ancient times to the present, scientists and philosophers have marveled at how such a seemingly abstract discipline could so perfectly explain the natural world. More than that--mathematics has often made predictions, for example, about subatomic particles or cosmic phenomena that were unknown at the time, but later were proven to be true. Is mathematics ultimately invented or discovered? If, as Einstein insisted, mathematics is "a product of human thought that is independent of experience," how can it so accurately describe and even predict the world around us? Physicist and author Mario Livio brilliantly explores mathematical ideas from Pythagoras to the present day as he shows us how intriguing questions and ingenious answers have led to ever deeper insights into our world. This fascinating book will interest anyone curious about the human mind, the scientific world, and the relationship between them.

Review Quotes

"Is God a mathematician? In his new book Mario Livio delves into this question, putting it into a scientific, historical and philosophical context. He steers skillfully through deep and tricky waters, but writes with clarity and ease...Read the book and decide for yourself what the answer is." -- Sir Michael Atiyah, recipient of the Fields Medal, 1966, and the Abel Prize, 2004

Specifications

Dimensions (Overall): 8.6 Inches (H) x 5.6 Inches (W) x .8 Inches (D)

Weight: .62 Pounds

Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up

Number of Pages: 320

Genre: Mathematics

Sub-Genre: History & Philosophy

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Format: Paperback

Author: Mario Livio

Language: English

Street Date: January 19, 2010

TCIN: 81922643

UPC: 9780743294065

Item Number (DPCI): 247-22-9815

Origin: Made in the USA or Imported

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Estimated ship dimensions: 0.8 inches length x 5.6 inches width x 8.6 inches height

Estimated ship weight: 0.62 pounds

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