Finding Fibonacci
The Quest to Rediscover the Forgotten Mathematical Genius Who Changed the World
Published on 9. July 2019
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-0-691-19230-7 (ISBN)
Description
A mathematician's ten-year quest to tell Fibonacci's story
In 2000, Keith Devlin set out to research the life and legacy of the medieval mathematician Leonardo of Pisa, popularly known as Fibonacci, whose book Liber abbaci, or the "Book of Calculation," introduced modern arithmetic to the Western world. Although most famous for the Fibonacci numbers-which, it so happens, he didn't discover-Fibonacci's greatest contribution was as an expositor of mathematical ideas at a level ordinary people could understand. Yet Fibonacci was forgotten after his death, and it was not until the 1960s that his true achievements were finally recognized. Drawing on the diary he kept of his quest, Devlin describes the false starts and disappointments, the unexpected turns, and the occasional lucky breaks he encountered in his search. Fibonacci helped to revive the West as the cradle of science, technology, and commerce, yet he vanished from the pages of history. This is Devlin's search to find him.
In 2000, Keith Devlin set out to research the life and legacy of the medieval mathematician Leonardo of Pisa, popularly known as Fibonacci, whose book Liber abbaci, or the "Book of Calculation," introduced modern arithmetic to the Western world. Although most famous for the Fibonacci numbers-which, it so happens, he didn't discover-Fibonacci's greatest contribution was as an expositor of mathematical ideas at a level ordinary people could understand. Yet Fibonacci was forgotten after his death, and it was not until the 1960s that his true achievements were finally recognized. Drawing on the diary he kept of his quest, Devlin describes the false starts and disappointments, the unexpected turns, and the occasional lucky breaks he encountered in his search. Fibonacci helped to revive the West as the cradle of science, technology, and commerce, yet he vanished from the pages of history. This is Devlin's search to find him.
Reviews / Votes
"[A] jaunty book."-James Ryerson, New York Times Book Review "Devlin leads a cheerful pursuit to rediscover the hero of 13th-century European mathematics, taking readers across centuries and through the back streets of medieval and modern Italy in this entertaining and surprising history."-Publishers Weekly "Finding Fibonacci showcases Devlin's writerly flair."-Davide Castelvecchi, Nature "[Devlin] talks his way into Italian research libraries in search of early manuscripts, photographs all 11 street signs on Via Leonardo Fibonacci in Florence and strives to cultivate a love for numbers in his readers."-Andrea Marks, Scientific American "Engaging and entertaining."-Library Journal "Personal and lively."-Adhemar Bultheel, European Mathematical Society "Devlin's enthusiasm for his subject is infectious."-Tony Mann, Times Higher EducationMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New Jersey
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
23 b/w illus.
Dimensions
Height: 208 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
306 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-691-19230-7 (9780691192307)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Keith Devlin
Finding Fibonacci
The Quest to Rediscover the Forgotten Mathematical Genius Who Changed the World
E-Book
03/2017
1st Edition
Princeton University Press
from
€67.95
Available for download
Person
Keith Devlin is a mathematician at Stanford University and cofounder and president of BrainQuake. His many books include The Unfinished Game: Pascal, Fermat, and the Seventeenth-Century Letter That Made the World Modern. He is "the Math Guy" on National Public Radio.