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Description
The Colossal Book of Mathematics: Classic Puzzles, Paradoxes, and ProblemsIn its twelve sections, The Colossal Book of Math explores a wide range of areas, each startlingly illuminated by Gardner's incisive expertise. Beginning with seemingly simple topics, Gardner expertly guides us through complicated and wondrous worlds: by way of basic algebra we contemplate the mesmerizing, often hilarious, linguistic and numerical possibilities of palindromes; using simple geometry, he dissects the principles of symmetry upon which
In its twelve sections, The Colossal Book of Math explores a wide range of areas, each startlingly illuminated by Gardner's incisive expertise. Beginning with seemingly simple topics, Gardner expertly guides us through complicated and wondrous worlds: by way of basic algebra we contemplate the mesmerizing, often hilarious, linguistic and numerical possibilities of palindromes; using simple geometry, he dissects the principles of symmetry upon which the renowned mathematical artist M. C. Escher constructs his unique, dizzying universe. Gardner, like few thinkers today, melds a rigorous scientific skepticism with a profound artistic and imaginative impulse. His stunning exploration of "The Church of the Fourth Dimension," for example, bridges the disparate worlds of religion and science by brilliantly imagining the spatial possibility of God's presence in the world as a fourth dimension, at once "everywhere and nowhere."
With boundless wisdom and his trademark wit, Gardner allows the reader to further engage challenging topics like probability and game theory which have plagued clever gamblers, and famous mathematicians, for centuries. Whether debunking Pascal's wager with basic probability, making visual music with fractals, or uncoiling a "knotted doughnut" with introductory topology, Gardner continuously displays his fierce intelligence and gentle humor. His articles confront both the comfortingly mundane--"Generalized Ticktacktoe" and "Sprouts and Brussel Sprouts"--and the quakingly abstract--"Hexaflexagons," "Nothing," and "Everything." He navigates these staggeringly obscure topics with a deft intelligence and, with addendums and suggested reading lists, he informs these classic articles with new insight.
Admired by scientists and mathematicians, writers and readers alike, Gardner's vast knowledge and burning curiosity reveal themselves on every page. The culmination of a lifelong devotion to the wonders of mathematics, The Colossal Book of Mathematics is the largest and most comprehensive math book ever assembled by Gardner and remains an indispensable volume for the amateur and expert alike.
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
Published: 09/17/2001
ISBN: 9780393020236
Pages: 736
Weight: 2.89lbs
Size: 9.18h x 7.26w x 1.61d
Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 07/30/2001 pg. 76
Scitech Book News 12/01/2001 pg. 37
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★★★★★ 5
Nice Shelving!
Size: 48 Inch, Color: Black, Number of Items: 2
Shelves were easy to install and look classy on the wall. A good buy for the money.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2026
★★★★★ 4
Did its job for moderate weight items.
Size: 40 Inch, Color: Black, Number of Items: 1
Easy install, a little expensive for its construction. Nice appearance however, flexes under moderate weight not for heavy items.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Great addition!
Size: 40 Inch, Color: Rustic Brown, Number of Items: 1
Floating shelf was super easy to install and is a great addition above my window in my office. I used it to put some display pieces my wife wouldn’t allow me to put over our mantle. Very sturdy and looks great!
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Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2025
★★★★★ 3
Looks Good-Not at all sturdy
Size: 40 Inch, Color: Rustic Brown, Number of Items: 1
Looks good. Not sturdy at all if you want to put any weight on it. It’s purely decorative and is not a functional shelf. I had to use toggle bolts for a hollow wall install. The hardware included was not helpful.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2025
★★★★★ 5
nice
Size: 24 Inch, Color: White, Number of Items: 1
Easy to install and stron enough to hold several work binders and books
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Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2026