Praise for William Dunhams Journey Through Genius The Great Theorems of Mathematics "Dunham deftly guides the reader through the verbal and logical intricacies of major mathematical questions and proofs, conveying a splendid sense of how the greatest mathematicians from ancient to modern times presented their arguments." —Ivars Peterson Author, The Mathematical Tourist Mathematics and Physics Editor, Science News
"It is mathematics presented as a series of works of art; a fascinating lingering over individual examples of ingenuity and insight. It is mathematics by lightning flash." —Isaac Asimov
"It is a captivating collection of essays of major mathematical achievements brought to life by the personal and historical anecdotes which the author has skillfully woven into the text. This is a book which should find its place on the bookshelf of anyone interested in science and the scientists who create it." —R. L. Graham, AT&T Bell Laboratories
"Come on a time-machine tour through 2,300 years in which Dunham drops in on some of the greatest mathematicians in history. Almost as if we chat over tea and crumpets, we get to know them and their ideas—ideas that ring with eternity and that offer glimpses into the often veiled beauty of mathematics and logic. And all the while we marvel, hoping that the tour will not stop." —Jearl Walker, Physics Department, Cleveland State University Author of The Flying Circus of Physics
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William Dunham,俄亥俄州立大学硕士和博士毕业,现为美国穆伦堡学院教授,世界知名的数学史专家。他分别于1992年、1997年、2006年获得美国数学协会颁发的George Polya奖、Trevor Evans 奖和Lester R. Ford奖。Dunham教授著述颇丰,除本书外,还著有《The Mathematical Universe: An Alphabetical Journey Through the Great Proofs, Problems, and Personalities》(数学那些事儿:思想、发现、人物和历史)等广受好评的科普著作。
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就大多数学科而言,一代人摧毁的正是另一代人所建造的,而他们所建立的也必将为另一代人所破坏。只有数学不同,每一代人都是在旧的建筑物上加进新的一层。
恰当的说,数学不仅拥有真理,还拥有极度的美--一种冷静和朴素的美,犹如雕塑的美那样,没有吸引我们脆弱本性中的任何部分的内容,没有绘画或音乐那样华丽的外衣,但是,却显示了高尚的纯粹,以及只有在最伟大的艺术中才能表现出来的严格的美。
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