Math Without Numbers

 

Milo Beckman's little book Math Without Numbers explains a lot of good mathematics with a dash of good humor. The table of contents summarizes the scope:

  • Topology – Shape * Manifolds * Dimensions
  • Analysis – Infinity * the Continuum * Maps
  • Algebra – Abstraction * Structures * Inference
  • Foundationsa dialog
  • Modeling – Models * Automata * Science

Of course, Math Without Numbers really has lots of numbers in it – just not visibly-explicitly. It successfully shares some deep concepts (with appropriate asides and caveats via a few footnotes) along with puzzles and cute cartoons. And the final parable, connecting Math to Science, works surprisingly well!

(cf No Concepts At All (2011-02-22), Key to the Treasure (2004-04-23), Cartooniverse (2011-06-05), Greatest Inventions (2011-06-09), Beyond Infinity (2017-07-24), Mathematical Illumination (2017-08-07), Ultimate Abstraction (2017-08-24), Many Worlds of Math (2019-03-15), ...) - ^z - 2022-10-30