Beyond Infinity: An Expedition to the Outer Limits of Mathematics by Eugenia Cheng | eBook

Publishers Weekly

09/11/2017
Cheng (How to Bake π), a scientist in residence at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and honorary fellow at Sheffield University, tackles some difficult concepts in this superb study of the mathematics of infinity. Beginning with the definition of infinity, Cheng moves through myriad mind-bending inquiries, including what the smallest infinity is, how to compare different infinities, whether you can subtract from infinity, and whether you can make an infinite number of cookies with a finite amount of dough. For each, she provides the mathematics behind the often counterintuitive answers. Cheng works hard at making these concepts accessible, employing menus and music playlists, among other things, to frame the challenging mathematical proofs. Acknowledging the difficulties the proofs present, Cheng wisely provides readers with reasonably accessible equations, useful graphics, and entertaining and straightforward explanations. Contemplating infinity is not trivial, even when following the lead of a writer as talented as Cheng, and readers will have to stop and wrestle with such recondite concepts as surjective and injective functions, harmonics, and factorials. Cheng’s enthusiasm for mathematics is infectious and readers curious about the mathematics of infinity will find her to be a worthy guide. Agent: George Lucas, Inkwell. (Mar.)

From the Publisher

"Dr. Cheng...has a knack for brushing aside conventions and edicts, like so many pie crumbs from a cutting board."—Natalie Angier, New York Times

"Beyond Infinity is a spirited and friendly guide—appealingly down to earth about math that's extremely far out."—Jordan Ellenberg, author of How Not to Be Wrong

"Ms. Cheng's chatty tone keeps things fresh. She has a knack for folksy analogies, and at different points in the book she illuminates different properties of infinity by discussing Legos, the iPod Shuffle, snorkeling, Battenberg cakes and Winnie-the-Pooh... she does a great service by showing us non-mathematician schlubs how real mathematical creativity works."—Wall Street Journal

"Our minds cannot truly grasp the concept of infinity, but Eugenia Chang takes us on a wild journey to help us in our search for it. It's a small, unassuming symbol, but it holds a giant idea. Cheng helps us understand the basics of infinity and then takes us on a ride to see its most lofty applications. From the practical to the entirely theoretical, this is a book to watch for."—Paste Magazine

"Beyond Infinity is witty, charming, and crystal clear. Eugenia Cheng's enthusiasm and carefully chosen metaphors and analogies carry us effortlessly through the mathematical landscape of the infinite. A brilliant book!"— Ian Stewart, author of Calculating the Cosmos

"The idea of infinity is one of the most perplexing things in mathematics, and the most fun. Eugenia Cheng's Beyond Infinity is a spirited and friendly guide—appealingly down to earth about math that's extremely far out."—Jordan Ellenberg, author of How Not to Be Wrong and professor of mathematics at University of Wisconsin-Madison

PRAISE FOR EUGENIA CHENG

"[Cheng] conveys the spirit of inventiveness and creativity in math... Refreshing is the word that keeps coming to mind."
—Steven Strogatz, as quoted in the New York Times

"Dr. Cheng...has a knack for brushing aside conventions and edicts, like so many pie crumbs from a cutting board."
—Natalie Angier, New York Times

"[Eugenia Cheng's] tone is clear, clever and friendly. Even at her most whimsical she is rigorous and insightful... [She is] a lucid and nimble expositor."
—Alex Bellos, New York Times Book Review

Beyond Infinity: An Expedition to the Outer Limits of Mathematics

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