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Ian Stewart | |
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List Price: £6.99
Our Price: £2.03
Author:
Terry Pratchett, Ian Stewart, Jack S. Cohen
By Ebury Press
Terry Pratchett needs no introduction. Ian Stewart has written fine nonfiction books on mathematics, and he and Jack Cohen collaborated on the quirkily inventive pop-science titles The Collapse of Chaos and Figments of Reality. What on earth, or on Discworld, are they all doing in the same book? Pratchett provides a very funny 30,000-word novella about Discworld science, beginning in the High Energy Magic faculty of Unseen University and leading his eccentric wizards to investigate an alien cosmos where there's no magic to keep things going. This is the Roundworld universe--ours. The key point: much that's true only on Discworld (eg: that suns orbit planets and not vice-versa) was once believed on Earth and the wizards' comic misunderstandings echo the history of real science ... Unusually, Pratchett's story is split into chapters and in between his chapters Stewart and Cohen wittily discuss the concepts underlying the fiction, from the Big Bang through stellar formation to life and evolution. Much of the science we know, they cheerfully insist, is "lies-to-children": good stories that are mostly untrue, like thinking of atoms as tiny solar systems. Discworld...
 the science of discworld, 2010-01-09
yet another essential read for discworld fans, this is not your usual outing into the world of mad wizards, instead its part story and part background, all in all still worth owning
List Price: £6.99
Our Price: £1.99
Author:
Terry Pratchett, Ian Stewart, Jack S. Cohen
By Ebury Press
Like its predecessor, The Science of Discworld II contains a short Discworld fantasy by Terry Pratchett whose chapters alternate with popular science commentary from Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen. In the Discworld strand, the bickering Unseen University wizards revisit their accidental creation Roundworld--that astonishing place where there's no magic. Our world, in fact. But it's being influenced by elves (bad news in the Pratchett cosmos), who bring superstition and irrational terrors to evolving humanity. They feed on fear. This is the cue for Stewart and Cohen to develop their ideas of stories as a shaping power in the evolution of human intelligence. Whether they're called spells, memes, creeds, theorems, artworks or lies, satisfying stories are Roundworld's equivalent of Discworld magic. It's just that it all happens in our heads: "headology" as top witch Granny Weatherwax puts it. Struggling to make Roundworld history come out right despite elvish interference, the wizards entangle themselves in complications of time travel and must eventually beg advice from Granny. To encourage a rational attitude to facts, it seems, Roundworld needs transcendent fic...
Possibly the best science books in this world or the Discworld, 2008-10-29
The Science of Discworld series books are simply some of the best science books around. As a Pratchett fan, and at one point a working scientist, I knew a lot of the science in both books, but the presentation of the material made me rethink many of my ideas, and get a better grasp of the scientific viewpoint. Aspiring scientists much read, digest and understand. I simply don't understand the reviews with less than 5 stars, they must have been reading a different book.
List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £3.66
Author:
Ian Stewart
By Quercus Publishing Plc
Review of `Taming The Infinite' by Ian Stewart, 2009-04-13
This is a fantastic book on the history and applications of mathematics. It starts with Hindu Arabic numerals and ends with Chaos Theory. Of course every major mathematical theorem or topic during this period could not be stated in a book of this size and as the author states he had to be selective. My only complaint about the selection is the lack of `linear algebra' because it is perhaps the second most (first being calculus) powerful mathematical tool ever invented.
To fully appreciate this book you must have a reasonable mathematical ability such as a good pass at Further Mathematics A level or equivalent.
Stewart does write in a way that will appeal to most readers and also you can dip into any chapter without digesting the previous chapters. The author has hit the right tone and progression.
A lot of research and time must have been invested into writing this book because of the coverage of applications, the history behind important mathematical developments, profiles of the leading mathematicians etc. I really do like the broad range of mathematical applications throughout the book. The author explains where differential equations are used in the field of physics and modern technology such as radio, tv and commercial jet aircraft and how important Navier Stokes Equation is in fluid mechanics. It goes on to explain where coordinate geometry and trigonometry are used in real life such as graphics, stock market fluctuations, navigation, surveying etc. This is an excellent resource for any A level mathematics teacher who wants to inspire his/her pupils.
The history of mathematics starts with the Hindu Arabic numerals and how they were brought to Europe by Fibonacci. It highlights major historical figures in the mathematics by placing a brief biography in a light shaded grey with an image of the mathematician. However I did not find this sort of feature for Leibniz which is a serious omission since he and Newton founded calculus.
I found the following minor typos:
1. Page 73 the result `sin(theta/2)=sqrt(1-cos(theta))/2' should be `sin(theta/2)=sqrt(1-cos(theta)/2)'.
2. On page 156 the statement of Riemann Hypothesis should read `complex zeros lie on the line z=1/2 plus or minus it' not `z=1/2 plus it'.
3. Page 260 the statement is written `x(t+3)' should be `x(t+ epsilon)'.
This is an excellent book and would recommend that anybody interested in mathematics should purchase this book. The book is a fantastic resource for any college or university library.
Kuldeep Singh
Sunday, 12 April 2009
List Price: £12.99
Our Price: £5.84
Author:
Ian Stewart
By Profile Books
A magical mathematical cabinet, 2009-12-09
This book is a worthy successor to Professor Stewart's previous best seller. Full of entertainments for anybody with a fascination for mathematics, that under appreciated foundation to our science and technology, and for some of us one of the deepest of interests and a continuing delight.
The book is stimulating, entertaining, amusing and informative. If you have the slightest interest, buy it and read it.
List Price: £9.99
Our Price: £3.90
Author:
Ian Stewart
By OUP Oxford
 Why to buy Math hysteria, 2004-07-03
Math Hysteria is a book eith lots of subjects in. It is not a book which should be read like it explains the whole topic because it is like an introduction to lots of topics. It is very useful because it has a further reading page which tells you what to read if you have enjoyed one of the chapters, and want to find out more.
List Price: £11.95
Our Price: £10.11
Author:
Ian Stewart, Vann Joines
By Lifespace Publishing
Excellent, 2009-10-31
I'm doing the TA101 course early next year and
this book has been invaluable in learning about the fundamentals of TA. Highly recommended!
List Price: £13.99
Our Price: £6.99
Author:
Stella Canwell, Ian Stewart, Carol Leach
By Nelson Thornes Ltd
Very useful, 2008-12-16
It isn't to long and gets straight to the point - which is a plus when you have a lot of revision to be getting on with. Gives a lot of useful tips on essay writing, the prose to be studied etc without being bombarding. I recommned this, especially if your struggling a bit with the course and need a few helpful hints.
List Price: £12.99
Our Price: £5.85
Author:
Ian Stewart
By Profile Books
Professor Stewart's Hoard of mathematical Treasures., 2009-12-28
I bought this for my daughter an Oxford D. Phil. She has a number of professor Stewart's books and was very pleased with this one. If there is anything more to say when she has more time I will let you know.****
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