Items related to Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences
Why do even well-educated people often understand so little about maths - or take a perverse pride in not being a 'numbers person'?
In his now-classic book Innumeracy, John Allen Paulos answers questions such as: Why is following the stock market exactly like flipping a coin? How big is a trillion? How fast does human hair grow in mph? Can you calculate the chances that a party includes two people who have the same birthday? Paulos shows us that by arming yourself with some simple maths, you don't have to let numbers get the better of you.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review:
This is the book that made "innumeracy" a household word, at least in some households. Paulos admits that "at least part of the motivation for any book is anger, and this book is no exception. I'm distressed by a society which depends so completely on mathematics and science and yet seems to indifferent to the innumeracy and scientific illiteracy of so many of its citizens".
Review:
But that is not all that drives him. The difference between our pretensions and reality is absurd and humorous, and the numerate can see this better than those who don't speak math. "I think there's something of the divine in these feelings of our absurdity, and they should be cherished, not avoided".
Paulos is not entirely successful at balancing anger and absurdity, but he tries. His diatribes against astrology, bad math education, Freud and willful ignorance are leavened with jokes, mathematical or the sort (he claims) favoured by the numerate.
It remains to be seen if Innumeracy will indeed be able, as Hofstadter hoped, to "help launch a revolution in math education that would do for innumeracy what Sabin and Salk did for polio"-- but many of the improvements Paulos suggested have come to pass within 10 years. Only time will tell if the generation raised on these new principles is more resistant to innumeracy--and need only worry about being incomputable. --Mary Ellen Curtin
John Allen Paulos is the maths teacher I found twenty-five years too late (Sean French Independent)
Innumeracy would improve the quality of thinking of virtually anyone (Isaac Asimov)
Paulos provides much in this book that is thought-provoking and informative. Markets can sucker even a maths professor. At least he can explain why (Financial Times)
Paulos mixes high mathematics with the kind of stories that make you laugh (Daily Telegraph)
Taught me more about the handling of numbers in real life than a thousand hours of maths teaching (Simon Jenkins The Times)
This elegant little survival manual is brief, witty and full of practical applications (Stefan Kanfer Time)
Innumeracy would improve the quality of thinking of virtually anyone (Isaac Asimov)
Paulos provides much in this book that is thought-provoking and informative. Markets can sucker even a maths professor. At least he can explain why (Financial Times)
Paulos mixes high mathematics with the kind of stories that make you laugh (Daily Telegraph)
Taught me more about the handling of numbers in real life than a thousand hours of maths teaching (Simon Jenkins The Times)
This elegant little survival manual is brief, witty and full of practical applications (Stefan Kanfer Time)
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherPenguin
- Publication date2000
- ISBN 10 0140291202
- ISBN 13 9780140291209
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages160
- Rating
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
£ 9.20
Shipping:
£ 4.50
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Other Popular Editions of the Same Title
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Stock Image
Innumeracy
Published by
Penguin Books Ltd 2000-03-02, London
(2000)
ISBN 10: 0140291202
ISBN 13: 9780140291209
New
paperback
Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Rating
Book Description paperback. Condition: New. Language: ENG. Seller Inventory # 9780140291209
Buy New
£ 9.20
Convert currency
Stock Image
Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences (Penguin Press Science)
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Buy with confidence! Book is in new, never-used condition 0.31. Seller Inventory # bk0140291202xvz189zvxnew
Buy New
£ 14.33
Convert currency
Stock Image
Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences (Penguin Press Science)
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. New! This book is in the same immaculate condition as when it was published 0.31. Seller Inventory # 353-0140291202-new
Buy New
£ 14.33
Convert currency
Seller Image
Innumeracy (Paperback)
Published by
Penguin Books Ltd, London
(2000)
ISBN 10: 0140291202
ISBN 13: 9780140291209
New
Paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. 'Taught me more about the handling of numbers in real life than a thousand hours of maths teaching' Simon Jenkins, The TimesWhy do even well-educated people often understand so little about maths - or take a perverse pride in not being a 'numbers person'?In his now-classic book Innumeracy, John Allen Paulos answers questions such as- Why is following the stock market exactly like flipping a coin? How big is a trillion? How fast does human hair grow in mph? Can you calculate the chances that a party includes two people who have the same birthday? Paulos shows us that by arming yourself with some simple maths, you don't have to let numbers get the better of you. Why do even well-educated people often understand so little about maths - or take a perverse pride in not being a 'numbers person'? This book answers questions such as: why is following the stock market exactly like flipping a coin; how big is a trillion; and, how fast does human hair grow in mph. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780140291209
Buy New
£ 16.44
Convert currency
Stock Image
Innumeracy
Published by
Penguin Books
(2000)
ISBN 10: 0140291202
ISBN 13: 9780140291209
New
Softcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. pp. 135. Seller Inventory # 7111754
Buy New
£ 10.76
Convert currency
Seller Image
Innumeracy (Penguin Press Science S.) [Soft Cover ]
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Soft Cover. Condition: new. Seller Inventory # 9780140291209
Buy New
£ 18.13
Convert currency
Stock Image
Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences (Penguin Press Science)
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. In. Seller Inventory # ria9780140291209_new
Buy New
£ 10.04
Convert currency
Stock Image
Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: Brand New. 160 pages. 7.64x5.12x0.43 inches. In Stock. Seller Inventory # __0140291202
Buy New
£ 10.14
Convert currency
Stock Image
Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences (Penguin Press Science)
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. New. Fast Shipping and good customer service. Seller Inventory # Holz_New_0140291202
Buy New
£ 17.25
Convert currency
Stock Image
Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences
Published by
Penguin Books Ltd
(2000)
ISBN 10: 0140291202
ISBN 13: 9780140291209
New
Paperback / softback
Quantity: 2
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback / softback. Condition: New. New copy - Usually dispatched within 4 working days. Why do even well-educated people often understand so little about maths - or take a perverse pride in not being a 'numbers person'? This book answers questions such as: why is following the stock market exactly like flipping a coin; how big is a trillion; and, how fast does human hair grow in mph. Seller Inventory # B9780140291209
Buy New
£ 11.56
Convert currency