The Magic of Numbers

A math book for “non-math” people, this book—based on a popular course at Harvard University—communicates to readers some idea of the mathematical view of world, and what attracts people to math in the first place. It uses a sense of humor and lighthearted tone to give learners a positive, enjoyable experience of thinking in math, and an understanding of the increasingly important role that science and technology play in our lives. A four-part format presents readers with a fundamental introduction, shows how they can think about arithmetic in a new way—based on what they already know, introduces them to truly abstract mathematics, and teaches them about the special properties of modular arithmetic that are central to modern life. For anyone who has taken an algebra class in high school, and wants to take their understanding of math a little farther—and into everyday life.

Benedict Gross is the Leverett Professor of Mathematics and Dean of Harvard College.

Joe Harris is the Higgins Professor of Mathematics and Chair of the Mathematics Department at Harvard.