Overview
Shortlisted for the 2021 Phi Beta Kappa Book Award for Science One of NPR's Best Books of 2020 One of the Most Fascinating Books WIRED Read in 2020 A brilliant mathematician examines the complexity of gender and society and forges a path out of inequality. Why are men in charge? After years in the male-dominated field of mathematics and in the female-dominated field of art, Eugenia Cheng has heard the question many times. In x + y, Cheng argues that her mathematical specialty -- category theory -- reveals why. Category theory deals more with context, relationships, and nuanced versions of equality than with intrinsic characteristics. Category theory also emphasizes dimensionality: much as a cube can cast a square or diamond shadow, depending on your perspective, so too do gender politics appear to change with how we examine them. Because society often rewards traits that it associates with males, such as competitiveness, we treat the problems those traits can create as male. But putting competitive women in charge will leave many unjust relationships in place. If we want real change, we need to transform the contexts in which we all exist, and not simply who we think we are. Praise for Eugenia Cheng ""[Eugenia Cheng's] tone is clear, clever and friendly . . . she is rigorous and insightful. . . . [She is] a lucid and nimble expositor.""--- Alex Bellos, New York Times Book Review ""Dr. Cheng . . . has a knack for brushing aside conventions and edicts, like so many pie crumbs from a cutting board.""--- Natalie Angier, New York Times
Full Product Details
Author: Eugenia Cheng
Publisher: Basic Books
Imprint: Basic Books
Dimensions:
Width: 14.00cm
, Height: 2.50cm
, Length: 21.10cm
Weight: 0.399kg
ISBN: 9781541646506
ISBN 10: 1541646509
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 25 August 2020
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Reviews
On yet another adventure in using the logic of math to address social and emotional issues, author Cheng takes on gender equality...She frames her thinking with relatable examples and anecdotes....Her arguments are both passionate and logical. --Booklist (starred review) A carefully developed argument that urges us to discuss character traits without reference to gender. --Kirkus
Author Information
Eugenia Cheng is Scientist in Residence at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an Honorary Visiting Fellow at City, University of London. She has authored numerous titles, including How to Bake Pi, Beyond Infinity, and x + y. Cheng lives in Chicago, Illinois.
