Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities: A Book Review

Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities: A Book Review

            The book talks about mathematical games, puzzles, paradoxes, brainteasers, tricks, facts and jokes, collectively called as curiosities. Ian Stewart has likened his mathematical knowledge to a collection of curiosities in a cabinet which I assume as his head. This is an exciting books especially those with adventurous minds. In this book, logic, geometry, probability and plain Jane arithmetic are the areas that the curiosities revolved. Some of the curiosities mentioned were: knowing the reason why you can’t really divide anything from zero, the seven bridges of Konigsberg and sausage conjecture. The author’s examples don’t just limit in mind working but it is also interactive meaning it involves the use of other parts of the body like extracting cherry from a cocktail glass. He has also added his own works like how to make a pop up decahedron and illuminating the easiest way for Archimedes to have moved the Earth.

            In his stories, he has incorporated the keys of Fermat’s last theorem, Poincaré conjecture, chaos theory and P=NP problem. You would be surprised to see the diversity of curiosities in his cabinet and as an advice, expect the unexpected. Some were skippabale while others are pencil and paper puller! Whichever a certain story falls one thing that’s for sure is that his book is full of clever, mind-expanding and exhilarating enigmas.

           

            I salute his passion for writing books like this. It hard to compile such stories and it’s harder to learn each story just to provide illumination on the strategies for each topic. Even if it’s a mathematical book, he always finds a way to make math easier to understand and enjoyable at the same time. Even if he’s good at math he sympathizes with those who are not good in math by providing this book.