The Colossal Book of Mathematics

By Martin Gardner,

Book cover of The Colossal Book of Mathematics: Classic Puzzles, Paradoxes, and Problems

Book description

Whether discussing hexaflexagons or number theory, Klein bottles or the essence of "nothing," Martin Gardner has single-handedly created the field of "recreational mathematics." The Colossal Book of Mathematics collects together Gardner's most popular pieces from his legendary "Mathematical Games" column, which ran in Scientific American for twenty-five years. Gardner's array…

When you buy books, we may earn a commission that helps keep our lights on (or join the rebellion as a member).

Why read it?

1 author picked The Colossal Book of Mathematics as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

They say that Plato was not a mathematician but was a maker of mathematicians. The same could be said of Martin Gardner, a prolific author who wrote, among many other things, the “Mathematical Games” column for Scientific American for a quarter of a century. Although all his books are excellent, The Colossal Book of Mathematics is a great entry point to Gardner’s oeuvre. It consists of what Gardner viewed as his 50 best Scientific American columns along with addenda containing updated material on each topic. With topics like topology, geometry, recreational mathematics, the infinite, and probability, each article is an…

From David's list on for mathematics enthusiasts.

If you love The Colossal Book of Mathematics...

Ad

Book cover of Tap Dancing on Everest: A Young Doctor's Unlikely Adventure

Tap Dancing on Everest by Mimi Zieman,

Tap Dancing on Everest, part coming-of-age memoir, part true-survival adventure story, is about a young medical student, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor raised in N.Y.C., who battles self-doubt to serve as the doctor—and only woman—on a remote Everest climb in Tibet.

The team attempts a new route up…

Want books like The Colossal Book of Mathematics?

Our community of 12,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Colossal Book of Mathematics.

Browse books like The Colossal Book of Mathematics

Book cover of Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth
Book cover of Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy
Book cover of Journey Through Genius: The Great Theorems of Mathematics

Share your top 3 reads of 2024!

And get a beautiful page showing off your 3 favorite reads.

1,902

readers submitted
so far, will you?

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in recreational mathematics, math, and game theory?

Math 282 books
Game Theory 41 books