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Encounters with Euclid

How an Ancient Greek Geometry Text Shaped the World
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( 179 ratings, 28 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Encounters with Euclid by Benjamin Wardhaugh offers an exploration of Euclid's "Elements," delving into its profound impact on mathematics and various other disciplines over centuries. The book presents historical anecdotes and stories that illustrate how Euclid’s work has shaped scientific thought and education. The narrative provides insights into the ancient text’s enduring legacy and influence on numerous thinkers throughout history.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you have a passion for mathematics and its historical context, this book will pique your interest. It delves into the influence and legacy of Euclidean geometry through fascinating narratives and illustrations, offering a richly detailed exploration of how Euclid's ideas have shaped mathematical thought over centuries.

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‘An astonishingly readable and informative history of the greatest mathematical bestseller of all time … The writing is vivid and the stories are gripping. Highly recommended ’ IAN STEWART, AUTHOR OF SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

An astonishingly readable and informative history of the greatest mathematical bestseller of all time … The writing is vivid and the stories are gripping. Highly recommended. — IAN STEWART, AUTHOR OF SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

Elements of Geometry by Euclid was a book that changed the world. In this sweeping history, Benjamin Wardhaugh traces how the ancient Greek text on mathematics—often hailed as the world’s first textbook—shaped two thousand years of art, philosophy, and literature, as well as science and maths.

With stories of influence on every continent, and encounters with the likes of Ptolemy and Isaac Newton, Hobbes and Lewis Carroll, Wardhaugh gives dramatic life to the evolution of mathematics.

Previously published as The Book of Wonders.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Encounters with Euclid is praised for being a highly readable and informative exploration of the historical impact of The Elements from ancient Greece to modern concepts like dark energy. Reviewers commend Benjamin Wardhaugh's storytelling, noting that the book is both educational and entertaining, making it a desirable read for those interested in the history of mathematics and science. The vivid writing and gripping stories contribute to its strong recommendation as a book worth reading over two and a half millennia of mathematical history.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780008299941

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 August 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: William Collins

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 27.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 300g

Pages: 416

About the Author

Benjamin Wardhaugh is a Fity-pound Fellow at All Souls College, Oxford. His research focuses on the history of numeracy and mathematics, and the ways mathematics influences and is a part of cultures. His work focuses mainly on topics in early modern Britain, including mathematical music theory in that period. He has taught in both the Mathematical Institute and the History Faculty. He is the author of several previous educational books.

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