Innumeracy

Innumeracy

Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences

Summary

Why do even well-educated people often understand so little about maths - or take a perverse pride in not being a 'numbers person'?

In his now-classic book Innumeracy, John Allen Paulos answers questions such as: Why is following the stock market exactly like flipping a coin? How big is a trillion? How fast does human hair grow in mph? Can you calculate the chances that a party includes two people who have the same birthday? Paulos shows us that by arming yourself with some simple maths, you don't have to let numbers get the better of you.

Reviews

  • John Allen Paulos is the maths teacher I found twenty-five years too late
    Sean French, Independent

About the author

John Allen Paulos

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