Overview

This book takes a novel view of mathematics, arguing that it is a branch of human language. Looking through this lens, it traces the evolution of math from the first tally sticks, through the invention of number systems, up to modern computer science. Along the way it shows that, like all language, the real key to math is human intuition. This book has something for everybody: math-phobes hoping to come to terms with an intimidating subject, mathematicians looking for insight into their trade, educators trying to make math accessible, and laymen who want to understand the role of numbers in human societies.

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9781512395860

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I work as a senior data scientist at Think Big Analytics, applying ""big data"" analytics to real-world problems. I consult for clients in a number industries, running the gamut from online auction houses to hardware manufacturers. In my previous academic life I studied stochastic modeling, mostly of DNA replication and computer systems. Lots of cool stuff, and I'm grateful that I can get my hands into all of it. On the side, I believe strongly in spreading the word about how cool all these things are to a wider audience. My book, What is Math?, was inspired by a debate among my grad school friends about the nature of mathematics (yes, there was alcohol involved). I realized that many technical people know tons of math, but they don't understand very well how it relates to the rest of the world. On the other end of the spectrum are math-phobes who do their best not to think of the subject. I wrote a book that I think will appeal to both of these groups and everybody in between. My thesis is that math is a branch of natural language, with all the strengths and frailties that entails. I trace its evolution from the first tally sticks to the present day, showing how it is used and abused, and how we can do better.

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