Math Without Numbers

Math is a difficult subject partly because it works with abstract and complex ideas. This book tries to simplify those ideas and present them in a fun and approachable way. Indeed, the writing style is casual and the tone is fun. The earlier chapters do present complex math concepts in an interesting way. However, the later chapters (which try to simplify more difficult math concepts) do not do as good a job of linking the narrative to the concepts.

The book is divided into five parts (Topology, Analysis, Algebra, Foundations, and Modeling), each consisting of three chapters (except for Foundations, which has only one chapter). The illustrations are line drawings, which generally help visualize the concept being explored. While the narrative is easy to follow, it sometimes goes off on a tangent, leaving the reader befuddled as to how the discussion connects with the math concept in question. As the math topics become more abstract or more complex, the simplistic explanations do not adequately explore the topics. However, the author’s attempt at explaining math in simple terms should be applauded.