by Robert M. Kaplan
There are different ways to use and think about mathematical concepts and they do not all leave a historical record in a form that can be interpreted with certainty. The gap between people engaged in trade and those indulging in philosophy has been especially important, notably for the ancient Gree...
This is a book that, a few years ago, made the perfect gift for my father, who has told me that he's read it several times. And so it's the perfect book to try and polish off while I'm visiting. (Because he'll miss it if I try to sneak off with it.) (My father does this too when visiting me. We both...
Kaplan never met a literary allusion he didn't like. At times this works, as it adds depth and surprising insight into some of the mathematical concepts he's talking about. At other times, it feels remarkably scattershot, and adds little to the material. Not every reference in every classic to nothi...
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