The Calculus of Happiness: How a Mathematical Approach to Life Adds Up to Health, Wealth, and Love - Hardcover

Fernandez, Oscar

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0691168636 ISBN 13: 9780691168630

Publisher: Princeton University Press, 2017

Synopsis

How math holds the keys to improving one's health, wealth, and love life

What's the best diet for overall health and weight management? How can we change our finances to retire earlier? How can we maximize our chances of finding our soul mate?

In The Calculus of Happiness, Oscar Fernandez shows us that math yields powerful insights into health, wealth, and love. Using only high-school-level math (precalculus with a dash of calculus), Fernandez guides us through several of the surprising results, including an easy rule of thumb for choosing foods that lower our risk for developing diabetes (and that help us lose weight too), simple "all-weather" investment portfolios with great returns, and math-backed strategies for achieving financial independence and searching for our soul mate. Moreover, the important formulas are linked to a dozen free online interactive calculators on the book’s website, allowing one to personalize the equations.

Fernandez uses everyday experiences―such as visiting a coffee shop―to provide context for his mathematical insights, making the math discussed more accessible, real-world, and relevant to our daily lives. Every chapter ends with a summary of essential lessons and takeaways, and for advanced math fans, Fernandez includes the mathematical derivations in the appendices.

A nutrition, personal finance, and relationship how-to guide all in one, The Calculus of Happiness invites you to discover how empowering mathematics can be.

About this title

About the Author

Oscar E. Fernandez is assistant professor of mathematics at Wellesley College and the author of Everyday Calculus: Discovering the Hidden Math All around Us. He also writes about mathematics for the Huffington Post and on his website, surroundedbymath.com.

From the Back Cover

"With an informal, engaging tone and sound applications, The Calculus of Happiness facilitates financial literacy. This is the first time I've encountered a book aimed at general readers that addresses the topic of financial mathematics. It is a valuable work that will serve as a lifelong resource."--John A. Adam, author of A Mathematical Nature Walk

"I absolutely love this book. The mathematics described is beautiful and accessible and, most important of all, truly meaningful and relevant."--James Tanton, author of Without Words: Mathematical Puzzles to Confound and Delight

"With its appealing informal style, choice of topics inspired by everyday life, and links to the relevant mathematical concepts and methods, this book shows how mathematics can improve one's quality of life. From healthy eating to managing the monthly budget, readers will look at their daily activities from an angle they may have never thought of."--Max Alekseyev, The George Washington University

Edition details

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Publication date: 2017
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0691168636
• ISBN 13: 9780691168630
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 176