Professor Stewart's Hoard of Mathematical Treasures
Stuffed with puzzles, jokes, word problems, puns, and history and lore about math, this sequel to Professor Stewart’s Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities (2009) reads like a numbers guy performing stand-up comedy (“A piece of a string walked into a bar . . .”). An old hand at the routine, Stewart’s contention that his compendium can entertain anyone with math-class memories is amply borne out, and his ability to surprise is one reason. One never knows what’s next: a proof that two plus two indeed equals four jostles with a spoof of proof itself. To keep readers on their toes, or at least flipping back to his “superlative storehouse of sneaky solutions,” Stewart flummoxes them with bizarre propositions, such as two plus two actually equals zero—when you’re doing modular arithmetic. Speaking of equality, the equal sign makes for a go-to topic for amusing vignettes, while stories about math underlying modern technology underscore the serious side of a subject with which Stewart makes such good sport. A great distraction for math mavens at any knowledge level. --Gilbert Taylor