Open UP Some Happiness

(A BOOK REVIEW OF IAN STEWART’S CABINET OF MATHEMATICAL CURIOSITIES)

Now this book is a taboo for those who hate math. I mean seriously, it is one hell of a good read and it lets you incur mathematics in a very rare, unconventional but awesome way.

Here goes my point(s) for why you should or should not, the pros and cons of the book:

Leading the pros in this book is the uniqueness of the collection of problems, logical questions and whatnots. This book is jam-packed with questions from such awesome sources that once they have been aggregated, they defied the norms and mainstream math. Maybe then, Stewart’s obsession became beneficial at all.

Next thing is that the book can’t get dorky enough. I mean aside from the puny puns to the exaggerated (in a good way) jokes, it really gives out the best of math in a sort of more entertaining way than simple lines and numbers. Who would not fall for mathematical jokes right? They break all the clichés of the mainstream learning and they certainly debunks the systemized stereotyping of mathematics (I can’t believe I am saying this) as boring and only for nerds.

Off to second to the last (though it is really important) is that it stimulates brain activity. I prefer to call it as an activity manual rather than a book because in all of its essence, it shouts solve me. And does not offer a simple “you could solve me or you could not” option to the reader because it somehow charms the reader to actually think twice and indulge to the pool of questions and brain benders presented. And mind you, it is not a no-brainer read so a snack would be handy while reading just as it consumes all your thinking juice.

Lastly, aside from being a challenging piece, it secretly injects the reader with various theorems unconsciously. It passes some sort of a time bomb that only explodes after you’ve finished reading it and somehow still remembered what you read. Now that’s like hitting two birds with one stone eh?

Moving on to the cons, now these are not major turnoffs since I already admitted that this is conceitedly awesome book. First stop for cons is that the puzzles in the book are not really that manageable at first look. Which means some of the puzzles would really kill your time and also your brains along the process. With this conclusion, I’d say this book is a “shelfer” which means that since it offers a certain degree of intellectual shimmer on it, it is preferably not advisable for categorization under “page turner” or “tear-jerker” (or maybe it is a tear-jerker in its own way). And since it can’t be categorized under the read-me-for-two-days-and-you-will-finish-me, then it must be shelved at certain moments in repetitive cycles for a long time. I mean the 200 plus pages aren’t digestible in just on sitting and I dare you to disagree with me.

Second and last point for cons is that some of the answers are explained briefly and thus sometimes not enough and understandable. And ironically, I can’t elaborate this point more than what is already here.

As Stewart said;

     “There are three kinds of people

      in the world:

      those who can count,

      and those who can’t”

     and I don’t know if you’ve somehow managed to locate the pun (or have I blurted it out to you? *grins* ) or not but it does not really matter as long as I know you could enjoy this book as much as I did (no intentional pun implied).