<<Deanna et al
My absolute favorite math book is "Innumeracy" by Paulos. Over
the years I have purchased around 8 copies...gifts, loans etc. It is
the most entertaining mathematics books I've read. My family thought I
was nuts... laughing as I read. I have "borrowed" some of his examples
(stolen is such a serious word)...like AIDS testing to grab the
student's attention.
<Snip>
If you're including "Innumeracy" as part of a reading list, I encourage
you to also include Peter Renz's debunking of the book (The American
Mathematical Monthly, Oct/93.) First have students enthusiastically
drop their collective jaw at the certainty (as Paulos would have it)
that we're all breathing part of Caesar's last breath nearly every time
we inhale - then read Renz's analysis in which he mercilessly shreds not
only the assumptions and analysis of the argument, but the motive behind
it!
Geoff Hagopian,
Palm Desert
****************************************************************************
* To post to the list: email mathedcc@archives.math.utk.edu *
* To unsubscribe, send mail to: majordomo@archives.math.utk.edu *
* In the mail message, enter ONLY the words: unsubscribe mathedcc *
* Words in the Subject: line are NOT processed! *
* Archives at http://archives.math.utk.edu/hypermail/mathedcc/ *
****************************************************************************