Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth by Apostolos Doxiadis

This peculiar (and brilliant) graphic novel tells the story of the mathematician and philosopher Bertrand Russell, as he searches for a logical foundation for mathematics. It goes without saying that this subject matter is usual for a comic. But with wonderful story telling and beautiful artwork this novel manages tell a captivating tale whose heroes (and anti-heroes) are logicians searching for truth.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Five Equations that Changed the World: The Power and Poetry of Mathematics by Michael Guillen

Written in a clear and easy to understand language, this books tells the story of five separate monumental discoveries by some of histories most renowned scientists (i.e. Isaac Newton, Daniel Bernoulli, Michael Faraday, Rudolf Clausius and Albert Einstein). This book does an excellent job of explaining, among other ideas, Newton's universal law of gravity, Bernoulli's law of hyrodynamic pressure and Einstein's famous theory E = MC2.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

A Beautiful Math: John Nash, Game Theory, and the Modern Quest for a Code of Nature by Tom Siegfried

An intriguing look at game theory and how it can be applied in a wide variety of areas (e.g. voting patterns; theories of war and peace; explanations for altruism; biological processes; etc). I found the first part of the book quite good, but was not as captivated by the second half, as I found the book lost its focus near the end. Nevertheless, I found this a very interesting read overall, and would recommend it for anyone interested in game theory or probabilities.

3 out of 5 stars

Algebra: Sets, Symbols, and the Language of Thought (History of Mathematics) by John Tabak

A good history of algebra that would be an ideal text for a high school math class. The book begins with the Mesopotamians, before progressing through the mathematical works of ancient Greece, India, the Islamic World and Asia. The bulk of the book, however, focuses on the works of Europeans, from Descartes and Galois to modern ideas in linear algebra.

3 out of 5 stars

Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman

This ingenious novel is nothing short of brilliant. Spanning a three month period in 1905 (April to June), this novel "recounts" a series of dreams that Albert Einstein has about time, as he is working on his special theory of relativity. Each chapter describes a different dream, with each dream allowing the young Einstein to analyze time from a different point of view (e.g. time flowing backwards; frozen time; relative time; time as a quality rather than a quantity, e.g.). This wonderful dreamscape is broken up on a few occasions when the reader is given tiny vignettes of Einstein's waking life. For most of the book, however, the reader is allowed to peer into Einstein's dreaming mind as he sleeps, while putting the finishing touches on his theory of time that would go on to revolutionize physics and change the world.

4 out of 5 stars

Fermat's Last Theorem: Unlocking the Secret of an Ancient Mathematical Problem by Amir D. Azcel

An interesting account on how one of the most famous math problems in history was solved. This being said, though I enjoyed this book, I also found it to be quite disjointed. In other words, Aczel makes the valid point that the proof of Fermat's last theorem was built on the work of numerous mathematicians over the centuries, and that Andrew Wiles (who penned the final proof) can't be given all of the credit. But instead of tying all of these different mathematical ideas into a cohesive narrative, they are instead presented as a series of vignettes. The result is that the reader doesn't feel like they have read a story, but rather a collection of anecdotes that end with the proof of Fermat's most famous theorem.

2 1/2 out of 5 stars

Infinite Ascent: A Short History of Mathematics (Modern Library Chronicles) by David Berlinski

This short book provides an excellent summary of the history of mathematics, from the ancient Greeks to the present day. I originally borrowed it from the library, but I enjoyed it so much that I decided to buy so I could keep it at home as a quick reference guide. This being said, the reader should be warned that the writing is a bit arrogant, and the perspective completely Western (the book's scant attention to the important contributions of the Arabs and Indians hundreds of years ago is a bit galling). Nevertheless, this book provides a good (and succinct) overview of a huge topic, and for that alone it is a useful read.

4 out of 5 stars

The Unfinished Game: Pascal, Fermat, and the Seventeenth- Letter that Made the World Modern by Keith Devlin

A fun book that describes the August 24, 1654, letter from Blaise Pascal to Pierre de Fermat that lay the foundation of probability theory. Describing the correspondence between these two French mathematicians that ensued during 1654, this book explains how a mathematical problem related to gambling set in motion a new mathematical field that allowed mathematicians (and statisticians, stock brokers, gamblers, etc.) to predict possible future outcomes of different events.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Euclid's Window : The Story of Geometry from Parallel Lines to Hyperspace by Leonard Mlodinow

A good introduction to the history of geometry. Beginning with Pythagoras and Euclid, this book goes on to discuss the great revolutions in geometry, from the co-ordinate system of Descartes, to the non-Euclidean spaces of Gauss and Riemann, to the general theory of relativity of Einstein, and finally the mind-bending geometric spaces of string theory. Overall, this is a great beginning for anyone interested in the study of space.

3 out of 5 stars

Everything and More: A Compact History of Infinity (Great Discoveries) by David Foster Wallace

I had no idea that the late-David Foster Wallace was a math aficionado. I was therefore pleasantly surprised to stumble across this captivating book on the history of infinity. Though certain parts of the book went over my head -- you really need a strong background in calculus and set theory to full appreciate this work -- I was still drawn in by many of the fascinating mathematical concepts related to infinity. From Zeno's paradox to the creation of infinitesimals to the work of Georg Cantor, this book inspired me to read further on number theory and the concept of infinity.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

The Nothing that Is: A Natural History of Zero by Robert Kaplan

A fascinating history of the number zero. From its beginnings in Mesopotamia -- where the Sumerians first conceived of this concept -- to its subsequent development by the Greeks, Indians and Arabs, Kaplan outlines the wonderful story of this curious "nothing" that somehow exists. From a symbol signifying the "absence" of a number / something, to its eventual development as an integer in its own right within positional notion, this book explains why the creation of zero was one of the most important developments in mathematics, and the very important role that it plays in such areas as algebra and calculus.

3 out of 5 stars

The Artist and the Mathematician: The Story of Nicolas Bourbaki, the Genius Mathematician Who Never Existed by Amir Aczel

This book tells the intriguing story of Nicolas Bourbaki, one of the most famous mathematicians of the 20th century, who also never existed. (Bourbaki was the collective pseudonym of a group of French mathematicians).

Unfortunately for the reader, however, this original story is undermined by a lack of focus. For instead of describing a clear tale of the Bourbaki math collective, we are instead presented with a hodgepodge of chapters that cover a wide range of topics. Though I found this book interesting overall, I was disappointed by this lack of focus, which is a shame given this fascinating subject matter.

2 1/2 out of 5 stars

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay

As an avid viewer of the TV show Dexter, I found this book to be quite enjoyable. (The first season of Dexter is based on this story). Though there are key differences between the TV show and book -- especially at the end -- I was pleased to see that the novel was a well-written page-turner. This being said, if I were to have one criticism of the book, it would be that the ending was fairly abrupt. Nevertheless, overall found this novel to be a good read.

3 out of 5 stars

Confessions of a Political Hitman: My Secret Life of Scandal, Corruption, Hypocrisy and Dirty Attacks That Decide Who Gets Elected (and Who Doesn't) by Stephen Marks

From 1994-2006, Stephen Marks worked as an opposition researcher for the Republican Party. Travelling across the United States, he dug up dirt on Democratic candidates and Republican clients who wanted to know how to defend themselves from political attacks. After working in numerous electoral campaigns (from local to state to national), Marks became disillusioned with both major U.S. political parties after uncovering countless cases of corruption and political hypocrisy.

When I first spotted this memoir in the public library I was intrigued. After reading it, however, I was disappointed to learn that it doesn't provide many political insights. It also very uneven. For while some parts of the book contain interesting stories, other chapters are simply “notebook dumps” of badly-written prose, with a few typos thrown in for good measure.

If you are interesting in learning how negative political campaigns are formed then you can skim through this book. But if you are looking for Machiavellian pearls of wisdom I would recommend looking somewhere else.

2 out of 5 stars

Taking On the System: Rules for Radical Change in a Digital Era by Markos Moulitsas Zuniga

This book is a valuable guide for political activists in the Internet age. Written by Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas, it is an excellent read for progressives who want to work towards social change.

This being said, after finishing this book, I couldn't help but wonder if Moulitsas and other left-wing bloggers and pundits (e.g. Daily Kos, Firedoglake, Huffington Post, Ed Schultz, Keith Olbermann) were paying attention to the advice in this book.

For instance, in Taking on the System, Moulitsas writes this: “

“Some battles are worth fighting to force rapid change, and choice and civil rights certainly qualify, but the fact remains that the most desirable pathway to change is slow, steady, and incremental, a process that can bring whole societies along. It’s the difference between having courts force something on the people, and having the people – through their elected representatives in a legislature – make that decision themselves. (p. 214).”

Given the health care debate in the U.S., I almost gagged when I read this. Taken at face value I completely agree with the above statement. In the real world, however, it seems that Moulitsas (along with a significant portion of the netroots) have completely disregarded this very sensible advice. For instead of recognising the value of incremental change, it appears that the left are insisting instead on certain reforms (e.g. the public option) that simply cannot be passed by this Congress.

In short, Taking on the System is an excellent book that is filled with great advice for activists. What I am less sure about, however, is whether the activists who read this book will be pragmatic or ideological.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Grand New Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class and Save the American Dream by Ross Douthat

This book was a pleasure to read. In an era in which U.S. conservatives have gone insane -- with the tea baggers and Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck -- it's good to know that there are some people on the U.S.-right who have not gone off the cliff.

I didn't agree with many parts of this book, but I would nevertheless recommend it. For in this age of political loons, it is refreshing to read a conservative viewpoint that engages in rational debate instead of hysterical screams.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

The Age of Abundance: How Prosperity Transformed America's Politics and Culture by Brink Lindsey

This book is an interesting take on the culture wars in the United States. Written from a libertarian perspective, it argues that political debate in the U.S. is dominated by two ideological minorities. On the left, there is a liberal class that promotes the cultural and sociological fruits of capitalism (e.g. cultural experimentation; an increasing capacity to pursue intellectual and scientific pursuits), while criticizing the very economic system that makes these fruits possible. Meanwhile, on the right, there are political partisans who recoil at the cultural opportunities created by capitalism, while defending the economic system that gives rise to these opportunities.

The thesis of the book is that these two extremes are vocal but minority groups. The majority – the libertarian center – comprises people who are more socially permissive than those on the right, but who also believe in free markets and the capitalist structure, which puts them at odds with many on the left.

I found this thoughtful book to be very enjoyable and would recommend it to anyone interested in U.S. politics. If I were to have one critique, however, is that it fails to describe in any great detail the so-called libertarian center. Though we hear a lot about hippies on the left and the religious-right, there is relatively little discussion of the center. The resulting effect is akin to a good comedian who forgets to say the punchline.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars

The Inheritance: The World Obama Confronts and the Challenges to American Power by David E. Sanger

An excellent (and frightening) discussion on the major geopolitical problems facing President Obama. From Iran, to North Korea, to Afghanistan and Pakistan, this book should be read by anyone who is interested in learning about the most dangerous foreign policy threats facing the U.S. at this time.

4 out of 5 stars

The Last Best Hope: Restoring Conservatism and America's Promise by Joe Scarborough

I was disappointed in this book. As a regular viewer of MSNBC, I have became a fan of Morning Joe, finding it to be the most interesting and intelligent show on the network. And even though I often disagree with Joe Scarborough's politics, I have come to respect his willingness to discuss politics with people from various points of view.

This book, however, is a lot weaker than his TV show. It is also a lot less bold than it pretends to be. It is true that this book questions some political orthodoxies on the right -- a rare thing for a Republican these days. At the same time, however, I found this book to be filled with many cliche conservative arguments, rather than innovative thinking.

2 1/2 out of 5 stars

Everyman by Philip Roth

A heartbreaking novel that is the work of a literary master. In this short book, Philip Roth describes an anonymous character -- a true "everyman" -- who reflects on his long life. Whether it is his failed marriages, estranged sons, beloved daughter who has forgiven him, or his body that is slowly decaying with age, as the inevitability of death looms over him, Roth has created a character that is flawed in an all-too human way. Roth's empathetic pen, however, allows the reader to connect to the main character in a very deep way, as if this unnamed man represented a part in all of us. A wonderful book that is a true masterpiece.

5 out of 5 stars