“The lives and writings of the most illustrious mathematicians, including Archimedes, Descartes, Fermat, Pascal, Newton, Leibniz, Euler, Gauss, Hamilton, Einstein, and many others, are recounted in this fascinating and extremely engaging book. The roles of these talented and frequently colorful individuals in the growth of mathematics are introduced and explained by author Stuart Hollingdale, as well as the connections between their contributions and mathematics as a whole.
Although this fascinating survey focuses mostly on biographical material, Hollingdale also examines significant historical issues and introduces novel concepts and methodologies. The reader’s lack of specialist mathematical understanding is not assumed. This book is extremely instructive and provides a clear, engaging introduction to one of the cornerstones of modern science as well as a crucial component of human culture throughout history.”
