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Paperback The Arithmetic of Life and Death Book

ISBN: 0345426452

ISBN13: 9780345426451

The Arithmetic of Life and Death

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Format: Paperback

Condition: Very Good

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Book Overview

Whether you realize it or not, numbers are everywhere--and integral to almost every facet of your life . . . from your next raise in pay to the inevitable rise of inflation, your weekly family budget to your end of the national debt. And as George Shaffner amazingly reveals, there are discerning answers (and a great measure of comfort) in numbers. In The Arithmetic of Life, he applies the basic principles of mathematics--addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division--to some of the most profound and just plain puzzling questions of our time. Illuminated with anecdotes, humor, and insight, each chapter explains a unique part of life that can be understood only through the magic of numbers. Whether it's an unconventional theory on why more things go wrong than right, a simple calculation of how much it will cost you to smoke for a lifetime, why crime (accumulatively) doesn't pay, or a glimpse into the probability of life after death, this enlightening and lucidly reasoned book will forever change the way you think about numbers--and the world around you.

Customer Reviews

5 customer ratings | 5 reviews

Rated 5 stars
Answers Questions At the Rim of Your Thinking.

This excellent book answers several questions that I have always wondered about - but never knew how to approach them. It also provideds support for issues I feel strongly about but did not understand why. It clarifies why some counter intuitive actions may be so effective. Finally it provides support to those of us working with young adults on how and why to take the proper long term actions. He hints at why rapidly finishing...

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Rated 5 stars
It's for you if . . .

This book is for you if you have teenage children, or a day job, or grandparents, or if you wonder why the deck seems to be stacked against you more often than not. This book is not for you if you expect eloquent mathematical proofs, theorems, corollaries and the like. I especially appreciated the chapter about congressional pork barrel spending. It provides an excellent example of Mr. Shaffner's ability to use simple...

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Rated 5 stars
Quantify Everything

If more math teachers saw the world the way that George Shaffner does, fewer students would whither away from boredom in the classroom. In The Arithmetic of Life, There are 40 excellent real-world scenarios designed to engage the reader in authentic mathematical thinking. Further, it is a wonderful book for those who want to learn to use numbers to their daily advantage. This book should be on every math teacher's bookshelf;...

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Rated 5 stars
GREAT BOOK, GREAT GIFT!

The "Arithmetic of Life" is a witty, intriguing, logical, and at times, powerful book. The subjects about which Mr. Shaffner writes apply to the young and old, rich and poor, and to people with and without integrity.It is an easy and pleasant read, and should be a must for everyone who is interested in the odds and value of life and the world in which we live.His unconventional theories are quite intriguing, and his humor...

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Rated 5 stars
Pithy, witty, thought=provoking, and informative

"The Arithmetic of Life" is a wonderful little book! Comprised of 40 pithy essays, it offers explanations for some of life's little (and not so little) mysteries. The book is highly readable, witty, and can be enjoyed by audiences of any age or walk of life. With subjects ranging from the cost of borrowing to whether we are alone in the universe, there is something in this book which will provide food for thought for...

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