Ian Stewart Books

A collection of Ian Stewart's recreational columns from Pour la Science, which demonstrate his ability to bring modern maths to life.

The teaching and learning of mathematics has degenerated into the realm of rote memorization, the outcome of which leads to satisfactory formal ability but not real understanding or greater intellectual independence. The new edition of this classic work seeks to address this problem. Its goal is to put the meaning back into mathematics. "Lucid . . . easily understandable".--Albert Einstein. 301 linecuts.

The year is 1835, and two strangers on the murky banks of the Union Canal make boatmaster James Ross a proposition. They will give him a pound in return for an alibi. Should anyone ask, they have been aboard his vessel all night. Ross glimpses their mud-spattered shoes. What have they been doing?A century later, Dalmuir couple Edith and Charles Hunter set off on a wintry evening walk along the Forth and Clyde. Minutes later cries of distress are heard from the banks, but the Hunters have gone. A police search soon becomes a sensational murder case.Scotland’s major canals, from the Highlands to the Lowlands, all feature in the annals of crime. In this fascinating new history T.A. Stewart reveals how assailants and thieves, and even kidnappers and terrorists, have been drawn to the waterways to practise their black arts.

Exploring the changing face of love, from the 16th century to the present, through masterpieces of portraiture Drawing on recent scholarship, Love Stories explores changing ideas of love, and gives readers the opportunity to discover love stories both tragic and transcendent.The stories cover a variety of the muse, scandal, tragedy, literature, the shared studio and life lived in front of the camera. These themes are illustrated through the stories of such well-known names as the Bloomsbury Group, Oscar Wilde, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, Lee Miller and Man Ray, and many more.Love Stories is brought to life through the perspective of various authors, using material from the sitters’ own letters, diaries and poetry, while highlighting their connection to and influence on some of the greatest masterpieces of art.

One of the world's great mathematicians explores the origins, history and future of the universe.

In this charming volume, a noted English mathematician uses humor and anecdote to illuminate the concepts of groups, sets, subsets, topology, Boolean algebra, and other mathematical subjects. 200 illustrations.

The first half of this book is a witty primer, a guided tour of the Islands of Truth that maps out everything you need to know about science from Newton to the present. The second half dives into the Oceans of Ignorance that surround what is known. Filled with anecdotes, diagrams, and colorful everyday examples, it is certain to make people look at the world in a new way.

A lively, accessible history of mathematics throughout the ages and across the globe Mathematics is fundamental to our daily lives. Science, computing, economics--all aspects of modern life rely on some kind of maths. But how did our ancestors think about numbers? How did they use mathematics to explain and understand the world around them? Where do numbers even come from? In this Little History, Snezana Lawrence traces the fascinating history of mathematics, from the Egyptians and Babylonians to Renaissance masters and enigma codebreakers. Like literature, music, or philosophy, mathematics has a rich history of breakthroughs, creativity and experimentation. And its story is a global one. We see Chinese Mathematical Art from 200 BCE, the invention of algebra in Baghdad's House of Wisdom, and sangaku geometrical theorems at Japanese shrines. Lawrence goes beyond the familiar names of Newton and Pascal, exploring the prominent role women have played in the history of maths, including Emmy Noether and Maryam Mirzakhani.

Exploring the intricate designs found in nature, this book delves into various patterns, such as a zebra's stripes and a spider's web. It highlights the mathematical principles that form the foundation of these natural phenomena, making complex concepts accessible and engaging for readers. Through vivid examples, it invites a deeper appreciation for the beauty and order present in the world around us.