Is God a Mathematician?
By Mario Livio
- Release Date: 2011-02-22
- Genre: Mathematics
Description
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.
Reviews
Well thought out, well written, interesting, but poorly executed by the publisher
5By G of MaineGlad I read this book. I'm not a history buff, but learned some history of math because Livio looks at how the works and views of great mathematicians bear on the book's central question. Many clear explanations of some of math's neatest ideas, and cogent thoughts about why math fits the world as well as it does (at least in places). Only one complaint: On iPhone, many math symbols are missing entirely (imagine reading 3 5 8 as an example of addition -- or worse, imagine reading 3 5 8 and not knowing what it's supposed to be an example of). Fortunately (or not), most of the equations are pretty simple. Could I possibly be the only person who has read this book on iPhone (5S, latest iOS)? Certainly the publisher has not bothered. This, combined with the as-usual crappy graphics of all e-books, gives the iPhone version a somewhat unprofessional feel. (I've created epub files; I know how to make really pro-looking graphics and captions. It's not that hard.) Livio's thinking deserves better, but shines through anyhow.
