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wisewalker419's review against another edition
challenging
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
2.75
Some essays were pointless ... but you can't trisect and angle, and a random matrix's eigenvalues distribution matches the energy levels' distribution of large nuclei
porges's review against another edition
4.0
Like another reviewer said this is one of the best pop-math books I’ve read. Everything is fresh and there’s little repetition of common stories and mathematics that are often repeated in other pop-math books.
knitter22's review against another edition
4.0
I've learned to take publisher's blurbs with a grain of salt, but the one for Foolproof describes exactly what this interesting book delivers. Hayes is a scientist and writer, one who has the unique ability to make math understandable and accessible to non-mathematicians, and he has written a book that is accurate, informative, and highly enjoyable. His enthusiasm makes the reader want to truly understand the topics he covers in these 13 essays. I enjoyed and learned from each one of them, with the last one about proof in mathematics being my favorite. Who wouldn't love a discussion about proofs that prove something is impossible?
The best popular math book that I have read previously is How Not to be Wrong by Jordan Ellenberg. Foolproof deserves a place right next to it on the shelf of excellent mathematics books.
The best popular math book that I have read previously is How Not to be Wrong by Jordan Ellenberg. Foolproof deserves a place right next to it on the shelf of excellent mathematics books.
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