Infinite Ascent: A Short History of Mathematics

In this book David Berlinski takes you on a trip through the ages into the hidden mystical history of mathematics. The book is relatively short so Berlinski gets right to the point using Biblical like precision and compactness in the array of language he chooses to employ. This book is for anyone who wants to know and understand the history of mathematics from a deep intuitive perspective but doesn't want or need to learn mathematics itself. Belinski does the finest job here of simplifying the concepts of advanced mathematics to such a degree that any high school graduate (with a dictionary handy) can ascertain their meaning and importance. A concise history of mathematics is this book. For the more "self declared" intelligent and learned out there, this book does an excellent job describing in poetic detail the significance of the story imbedded in the enigmatic history of mathematics, as well as explaining the significance of math itself. Berlinski uses a wonderful bouquet of words that will help to titillate even the brainiest and experienced of readers. If you are looking for a little mathematical enlightenment and wouldn't mind a transcending journey, be prepared for the expierence of Infinite Ascent!

I recall "sipping from the fire hydrant of knowledge" during my University days and have felt for decades that I missed some of the big ideas in Mathematics. I wanted a chronological mental map. This enjoyable 181 page book covers the big topics from Pythagoras to Galois through Gauss to Mandelbrot in sufficient detail to allow me to understand who did what when and why it matters. David did a much better job explaining Galois's group theory ideas for proving the quintic unsolvable by radicals than the recent book "The Equation that couldn't be solved". Somehow I never understood the infinitesimals versus limit method proofs of Calculus but David made it clear. I am much indebted for this book, it has cleared up many long standing gaps in my admittedly meager grasp of mathematics.

The previous reviewers should lighten up. If the book wasn't what you expected, maybe it's your fault, not the author's. It is a very brief history of all of mathematics, how could you expect it to go into detail? This book covers the basic concepts and ideas of mathematics, and it does so in a very clear and entertaining way. I couldn't put it down.

Berlinski has a first class mind and it shows in this succinct but excellent history of mathematics. All of the giants of mathematics are here from Pythagoras to Descartes to Newton and Lebiniz, who invented calculus ,to Cantor and his theory of infinite sets to Godel and his famous Incompleteness Theorem. And Berlinski's vivid prose brings each of these mathematical giants to life. The chapter on Evariste Galois, inventor of group theory, who died at the age of twenty in a duel is superb. This chapter leaves one with the feeling that you have briefly walked in the world of Galois. In conclusion, Infinite Ascent is well written with just the right level of mathematical sophistication and it covers 2500 years of mathematical history in a mere 197 pages. I would also strongly suggest THE ADVENT OF THE ALGORITHM, NEWTON'S GIFT, and especially A TOUR OF THE CALCULUS all by Mr. Berlinski.

No one writes with more passion, elegance and wit about mathematics than David Berlinski. Infinite Ascent does not disappoint -- it's Berlinski at his best. Even better than Tour of the Calculus. Highly recommended.