Bestselling author and astrophysicist mario livio examines the lives and theories of. But i do feel as if an entire field of knowledge is effectively sealed off to me. The book addresses the question of whether mathematics is invented or discovered. This fascinating book will interest anyone curious about the human mind, the scientific world, and the relationship between them. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Bestselling author and astrophysicist mario livio examines the lives and theories of historys greatest mathematicians to ask howif mathematics is an abstract construction of the human mindit can so. Is god a mathematician by mario livio powells books. Nobel laureate eugene wigner once wondered about the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in the formulation of the laws of nature. Mario livio born 1945 is an israeliamerican astrophysicist and an author of works that popularize science and mathematics. These and many more are the questions that mario livio is attempting to answer in is god a mathematician. He is the author of the bestsellers the golden ratio, brilliant blunders, and galileo. Why do so many basic truths of physics, nature and the universe obey mathematical laws. Dec 01, 2008 the question of whether god is a mathematician refers to the apparently omnipotent powers of mathematics to describe the world we live in its unreasonable effectiveness, to use a phrase coined by physics nobel laureate eugene wigner in 1960. Designed for readers who have littletomoderate understandings of the mathematics, is god a mathematician.
Jan 06, 2009 why does math describe reality so well. Livio hedges his bets, unsatisfyingly arguing that mathematics is partly discovered and partly invented. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read is god a mathematician. Physicist and author mario livio brilliantly explores mathematical ideas from pythagoras to the present day as he shows us how intriguing questions and ingenious answers have led to ever deeper insights into our world. In other words, to newton, god was a mathematician among other things, not just as a figure of speech, but almost literallythe creator god brought into existence a physical world that was governed by mathematical laws. Bestselling author and astrophysicist mario livio examines the lives and theories of historys greatest mathematicians to ask howif mathematics is an abstract construction of the human mindit can so perfectly explain the physical world. Physicist and author mario livio brilliantly explores mathematical ideas from. Is god a mathematician and the accelerating universe. Cart hello select your address best sellers todays.
Brilliant blunders 2014 probably the most straightforward of mario livios books, and the one thats lightest on mathematical and astronomical concepts. In is god a mathematician, mario livio tries to explain the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics to make sense of nature. Best sellers todays deals prime home customer service home improvement electronics gift ideas new releases books. Jan 29, 2018 is god a mathematician was extremely wellreceived, and was eventually adapted into an emmynominated program called the great math problem. This book suffers from confirmation bias, the author repeatedly citing examples from everywhere to bolster his central argument that the god is a mathematician, while deliberately avoiding claims against. Mario livio is an internationally known astrophysicist at the space telescope science institute stsci in baltimore, maryland. Cart hello select your address best sellers todays deals new releases electronics books customer service gift ideas home computers gift cards sell. Bestselling author and astrophysicist mario livio examines the lives and theories of historys greatest mathematicians to ask howif. The book takes a look at the history of math by asking the question of whether or not math is a human invention or a discovery of a preexisting system.
Mar 05, 2010 bestselling author and astrophysicist mario livio examines the lives and theories of historys greatest mathematicians to ask howif mathematics is an abstract construction of the human mindit can so perfectly explain the physical world. This book is sorta philosophical, and does not contain any mathematics. In his new book mario livio delves into this question, putting it into a scientific, historical and philosophical context. He is the author of the golden ratio, a highly acclaimed book about mathematics and art for which he received the international pythagoras prize and the peano prize. Bestselling author and astrophysicist mario livio examines the lives and theories of historys greatest mathematicians to ask howif mathematics is an abstract. Continuing this exploration of the philosophy of mathematics led me to mario livios intriguing book, is god a mathematician. Mario livio s is god a mathematician helped shed some light on what has largely been terra incognita for me. Is god a mathematician pdf download full read book page. Nobel laureate eugene wigner once wondered about the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in the. Galileo said, the book of nature is written in mathematical language, and its characters are triangles, circles and other geometric figures, without which it is.
From ancient times to the present, scientists and philosophers have marveled at how such a seemingly abstract discipline could so perfectly explain the natural world. He steers skillfully through deep and tricky waters, but writes with clarity and ease. Feb 22, 2011 a nice book, but not as stunning as his brilliant blunders. For 24 years 19912015 he was an astrophysicist at the space telescope science institute, which operates the hubble space telescope. Jan 19, 2010 mario livio is an internationally known astrophysicist, a bestselling author, and a popular speaker who has appeared on the daily show, 60 minutes, and nova. Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. He has published more than 400 scientific articles on topics including cosmology, supernova explosions, black holes, extrasolar planets. But theres no doubt that his followers placed their faith in the divine nature of numbers, a religious conviction that starkly illustrates one answer to the question astrophysicist mario livio asks in is god a mathematician.
Livio is a senior astrophysicist and former head of the science division at the space telescope science. How mathematical genius discovered the language of symmetry, 2005, etc. His fans will enjoy this book, and new ones may discover him. Jan 06, 2009 mario livio is a senior astrophysicist and the head of the office of public outreach at the space telescope science institute stsci in baltimore, maryland. Is god a mathematician pdf download full pdf read book page. A nice book, but not as stunning as his brilliant blunders. This fascinating book will interest anyone curious about the human mind, the. Livio, an astrophysicist at the hubble space telescope science institute in baltimore, explains the inventionvs. Thats the fundamental question mario livio probes in his engrossing book is god a mathematician. Nobel laureate eugene wigner once wondered about the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in. Of the 50 plus books i own, i return to this the almost every day much like listening to a mountaintop prophet sharing insights that finally puts. If youre so inclined, you can read about the results here.
1120 527 1110 963 209 210 319 1424 782 188 203 1277 402 750 1126 261 1420 169 654 200 138 822 803 1394 946 1460 67 1282 493 468 1250 6 772 247 28 1364 1570 898 686