Unequal

Reviews / Votes

Eugenia Cheng has opened up my mind to the wondrous world of pure mathematics in a way that I never thought was possible -- Willow Smith [This] is more than a regurgitation of the many formulas you may recall learning in school; Cheng argues that an equation - in its barest sense, a declaration that two things are equal - can be a profound statement on the choices we make about what is or is not the same. -- Katrina Miller * New York Times * Eugenia Cheng has done it again! With her usual brilliance she has caused us to question all that we thought was true about mathematics -- Jo Boaler, author of Math-ish You might think things are either equal orthey aren't, but for mathematician Eugenia Cheng, some things are more equal than others - in maths and in life. Her clever exploration of the meaning of "equals" helps us grasp its mathematical complexities - and the everyday dangers of assuming, for example, two people who score the same on an IQtQ test are equally intelligent . * New Scientist Books of the Year * Clear, clever and friendly...even at her most whimsical, she is rigorous and insightful -- Alex Bellos Eugenia Cheng has done it again. Not only is she a great teacher of powerful mathematics: she shows us how understanding math can help us live better lives. Once you read this book, you'll have a new perspective on equality and difference, and why both matter so much. -- Stephon Alexander, theoretical physicist, cosmologist and author of The Jazz of Physics Intriguing, thought-provoking, and occasionally dizzying, Unequal offers new ways of formulating solutions for all kinds of problems -- Kathleen McBroom * Booklist * Eugenia Cheng's writing is generous and precise, a soft-serve swirl of the universal and the particular. In a way that few mathematicians can, she writes for everyone -- Ben Orlin, author of Math with Bad Drawings "If you think maths is all about equations, then you probably think maths is all rigid and black-and-white," says Cheng. This book is a wonderful refutation of that misconception. Exploring the meaning of "equals" in mathematics gives us a better understanding not just of the nuance and richness of the field, but of how ideas of equality are used (and misused) in life. Her approach is both playful and deeply serious, leavening abstract concepts with entertaining tangents on everything from knitting Moebius strips [and] important political and rights-based questions around equality ... to making an iterated Battenberg cake -- Professor Emerita Sarah Hart, author of Once Upon a Prime * New Scientist * Eugenia Cheng has humour, grace and a natural gift -- Daniel Levitin, author of I Heard There Was a Secret Chord Cheng attempts to impart crucial life lessons via the fundamentals of math ... [making] the case that using the ways of thinking required in math can enrich people's lives and provide a more nuanced viewpoint * Publishers Weekly * Praise for Is Maths Real? * : * A generous tour of mathematics for anyone whose instincts tend less towards "Just tell me the answer" and more towards "Wait, but why?" -- Jordan Ellenberg, author of 'Shape' An edible exploration of math * New York Times * Intriguing ... Celebrates the dizziness and disorientation engendered by childlike questions that hint at the deep mysteries beneath -- Anil Ananthaswamy * New Scientist * Passionate, eye-opening and accessible ... a love letter to the curious spirit of the discipline * Waterstones Best Books of 2023 * A brilliant rebuttal to those who see math as only about right answers, rather than about creative discovery. [Cheng] masterfully uncovers what's simply profound in the profoundly simple -- Francis Su, author of 'Mathematics for Human Flourishing' Discover what it feels like to be a real mathematician ... This is a human pursuit, depicted here from the inside -- Simon Ings * Telegraph * An entertaining foray into the more philosophical realms of mathematics ... for the budding mathematician in the house, to say nothing of lovers of puzzles and enigmas * Kirkus * Praise for x + y * : * 'A way of seeing this exhausting debate from a completely new angle ... bold and optimistic * Guardian * A fascinating, disarmingly accessible read and a wonderful example of what academics should in general do much more of * Irish Times * Compelling ... x+y provides useful new tools for change, for those - like me - involved in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. For those who are not yet involved, she sets out reasons to become so. And I'm a new fan of pure mathematics. Dr Cheng, can we be friends? * Nature * This book changed my life in the most beautiful way. Eugenia Cheng doesn't just explain why the way our society conceptualizes gender is all wrong - she proposes a new way of thinking about - and beyond - gender. Through accessible graphs and brilliant metaphor, Cheng pushes her readers instead to think about a person's behavior ... Stunning -- Rebecca Ramirez * NPR * Reimagine[s] gender through her mathematical lens as one of few women in the field * New York Times *