The Number Sense: How The Mind Creates Mathematics
Language: English
Published by Allen Lane, London, U.K., 1997
- First Edition
- Hardcover
- New

Seller: Aynam Book Disposals (ABD), Kendal, Cumbria, United KingdomAynam Book Disposals (ABD)
AbeBooks seller since September 16, 2005
Condition: New
US$ 13.68
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.
Seller Inventory # 015417
- Title
- The Number Sense: How The Mind Creates Mathematics
- Author
- Dehaene, Stanislas
- Publisher
- Allen Lane, London, U.K.
- Publication year
- 1997
- Condition
- New
- Dust jacket
- New
- Book Type
- Hardback
- Binding
- Cloth
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0713991704
- ISBN 13
- 9780713991703
- Edition
- First Edition/First Printing.
- Seller catalogs
- Mathematics, Psychology
Dehaene, a mathematician turned cognitive neuropsychologist, begins with the eye-opening discovery that animals--including rats, pigeons, raccoons, and chimpanzees--can perform simple mathematical calculations, and he describes ingenious experiments that show that human infants also have a rudimentary number sense (American scientist Karen Wynn, for instance, using just a few Mickey Mouse toys and a small puppet theater, proved that five-month-old infants already have the ability to add and subtract). Further, Dehaene suggests that this rudimentary number sense is as basic to the way the brain understands the world as our perception of color or of objects in space, and, like these other abilities, our number sense is wired into the brain. But how then did the brain leap from this basic number ability to trigonometry, calculus, and beyond? Dehaene shows that it was the invention of symbolic systems of numerals that started us on the climb to higher mathematics, and in a marvelous chapter he traces the history of numbers, from early times when people indicated a number by pointing to a part of their body (even today, in many societies in New Guinea, the word for six is "wrist"), to early abstract numbers such as Roman numerals (chosen for the ease with which they could be carved into wooden sticks), to modern numbers. On our way, we also discover many fascinating facts: for example, because Chinese names for numbers are so short, Chinese people can remember up to nine or ten digits at a time--English-speaking people can only remember seven. Dehaene also explores the unique abilities of idiot savants and mathematical geniuses, asking what might explain their special mathematical talent. And we meet people whose minute brain lesions render their mathematical ability useless--one man, in fact, who is certain that two and two is three. Using modern imaging techniques (PET scans and MRI), Dehaene reveals exactly where in the brain numerical calculation takes place. But perhaps most important, The Number Sense reaches many provocative conclusions that will intrigue anyone interested in mathematics or the mind. Dehaene argues, for instance, that many of the difficulties that children face when learning math, and which may turn into a full-blown adult "innumeracy," stem from the architecture of our primate brain, which has not evolved for the purpose of doing mathematics. He also shows why the human brain does not work like a computer, and that the physical world is not based on mathematics--rather, mathematics evolved to explain the physical world the way that the eye evolved to provide sight.
A truly fascinating look at the crossroads where numbers and neurons intersect, The Number Sense offers an intriguing tour of how the structure of the brain shapes our mathematical abilities, and how our mathematics opens up a window on the human mind.
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Aynam Book Disposals (ABD)
Kendal, Cumbria, United Kingdom
AbeBooks seller since September 16, 2005
Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 10 business days | 5 to 10 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | US$ 24.89 | US$ 24.89 |
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PRIVATE LIBRARY SALES: on-line disposal from home of personal items; specifically books acquired over a lifetime, via collection, gift and inheritance, for my own enjoyment rather than as stock in trade. In furtherance of both domestic downsizing and capital release my library is subject to long term disposal by, firstly, selective on line sale, secondly, donation to charity and, finally, waste recycling. As a merely part-time seller this retired private individual, for additional reasons of age and infirmity, is reluctantly offering for sale, solely on line, books selected individually on the basis of interest, scarcity, condition and potential sale value. These items accumulated for their content through inheritance, private gifts (including former bookshop display stock) and collection and all in my possession for years, are chosen from a still excessively large domestic private library. They are mainly out of print, twentieth century non-fiction editions, both academic and non-academic. PLEASE NOTE : FIRSTLY, neither in the past nor currently have books been acquired with sale in mind. No part of this diminishing library, including that currently subject to listing for sale, will have ever been originally acquired by me from anywhere with any specific intention of selling on. I have never kept separate retail premises. I have never in the past bought and do not now buy books to sell and therefore I have never been a book dealer. Any book listed for sale will already have been in my ownership for at leat two years, though usually for far longer, and will have come from no other source than my own personal library. Though a collector years ago I no longer attend auctions, book fairs, car boot sales etc; books sometimes acquired for my own personal use are not listed, if ever, until at least two years later. I am merely a private, non-employed, non-professional, retired, part-time seller who, out of financial necessity, is running down, as a part-time occupation, their own extensive private library. I am merely selectively selling off personal possessions, specifically books. Since proceeds from the sale of such possessions cannot yield any trading profit I am not trading as such and therefore ABD is not registered as a business. Offers, whether from the public or trade, of books for me to purchase are neither solicited nor accepted. As an amateur, private seller I regret that trade discounts are unavailable. SECONDLY, 'New' books here are not necessarily publisher supplied and are listed regardless of any criteria other than their actual physical condition; that condition overrides. The AbeBooks Advanced Search page All Conditions filter opposes 'New' against 'Used' (despite 'New' referring more usually to recent pre-retail acquisition rather than to a condition). Since 'New' and 'Used' conditions are not defined 'New' is here taken to be the synonym of unused and thus 'Used', requiring physical change from unused, is the antonym of both. Since any 'Condition' can only relate to physical criteria that overriding binary distinction is applied here solely on the basis of the observed absence or presence of physical evidence of use, i.e. from having been opened/read or just obvious handling, regardless of whether in print, age or source, none being conditions as such. Therefore a 'New' book is defined here solely by the absence of such evidence and regardless of any of the above. Variation in any does not necessarily result in change in physical condition and thus, exceptionally, though ex display, long out of print or even retailed a book may still remain unused and therefore 'New'. So regardless, IF they are still obviously unused, such books are listed 'New, that condition overriding; descriptions may qualify that in respect of slight deterioration. The conditions 'As New' and 'Fine' may be used in more borderline cases. New books are listed preferentially over others in inferior condition.…
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Aynam Book Disposals (ABD)
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Books listed on AbeBooks sold via AbeBooks e-commerce intermediary card processing (and there ONLY by Visa /Master card.) RETURN and REFUND PROVISIONS are as required by AbeBooks policies, ( see buyer Help pages). PLEASE NOTE that on my listings all books and their dust jackets/wrappers are graded independently of each other (a 'fine' or even an 'as new' book might, though rarely, have a 'poor' jacket). Jackets may have any tears closed from inside with scotch tape; and if described as "protected" are enclosed in a removable transparent sleeve. If price clipped this is noted though, since often in the past publisher originated, without this necessarily always resulting in down-grading; very slight at-front pencil traces may be similarly treated. Non-fiction books listed as First editions may have no known other edition and may not necessarily be the first printing. PLEASE ALSO NOTE: 'New' books here are not necesarily publisher supplied and are listed regardless of any criteria other than their actual physical condition; that condition overrides. The AbeBooks Advanced Search page All Conditions filter opposes 'New' against 'Used' (despite 'New' usually implying only recent pre-retail acquisition rather than a condition). Since 'New' and 'Used' conditions are not defined 'New' is here taken to be the synonym of unused and thus 'Used', requiring physical change from unused, is the antonym of both. Since any 'Condition' can only relate to physical criteria that overriding binary distinction is applied here solely on the basis of the observed absence or presence of physical evidence of use, i.e. from having been opened/read or just obvious handling or deterioration, regardless of age or source, neither being conditions as such. regardless of age, source, pre-owned, or out of print; none being conditions as such. Therefore a 'New' book is defined here solely by the absence of such evidence and regardless of any of the above. Variation in any does not necessarily result in change in physical condition and thus, exceptionally, though ex display, long out of print or even retailed a book may still remain unused and therefore 'New'. So regardless, IF they are still obviously unused, such books are listed 'New, that condition overriding; but descriptions may qualify that in respect of minor deterioration. New books are listed preferentially over others in inferior condition. Selling on line only from UK. ( coxorcolin@gmail.com). Not VAT registered.
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