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A Most Elegant Equation
- Euler’s Formula and the Beauty of Mathematics
- Narrated by: Sean Pratt
- Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins
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Publisher's Summary
Bertrand Russell wrote that mathematics can exalt "as surely as poetry". This is especially true of one equation: ei(pi) + 1 = 0, the brainchild of Leonhard Euler, the Mozart of mathematics. More than two centuries after Euler's death, it is still regarded as a conceptual diamond of unsurpassed beauty. Called Euler's identity, or God's equation, it includes just five numbers but represents an astonishing revelation of hidden connections. It ties together everything from basic arithmetic to compound interest, the circumference of a circle, trigonometry, calculus, and even infinity. In David Stipp's hands, Euler's identity becomes a contemplative stroll through the glories of mathematics. The result is an ode to this magical field.
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What listeners say about A Most Elegant Equation
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Kindle Customer
- 04-09-18
Good treatment of the subject
Overall a good journey through Euler's formula, with nice side trips through intriging relevant stories that were integral to Euler's great, beautiful equation. However, the author, who is a writer who once majored in math, epresses his sometimes fleeting grasp on the subject with the literary awkwardness. He has a journalist's understanding of mathematics, and the journalistic skill of a mathematician.
23 people found this helpful
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- Andreas Zenker
- 06-05-18
Great math book to listen to
Not all math books translate well to audio but in this case it was a really enjoyable listen.
Writing and narration were quite good and the math was approachable even in this format.
The only thing missing is a pdf of the formulas and images from the last few chapters where I found myself wanting to work along with the author. This is not recommended while driving ;) but I may just re-listen to that section with a pad of paper so I can scratch out the ideas on paper
Great book!
19 people found this helpful
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- Charlotte A. Hu
- 04-12-19
Helped me stay in a conversation with a Quant
I was super impressed with this fun and engaging book. I'm prepping for the GRE, again. And while I'm taking an online trig course, I wanted something mathematical to add to my morning commutes. I listened to several chapters several times because the content can be difficult to follow for a non-math person like myself. But I surprised myself how much I learned when I found out one of my colleagues has a Masters in Mathematics and we talked about Euler, Euler's formula and the history of mathematics as well as distinctions in Algebra, Trig, etc.
I like the writing style. It's flippant and a little sarcastic. It's a very specific form of humor that fits the topic well.
12 people found this helpful
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Good and Simple
I really liked the math history, and a refreshing view on a beloved equation. however the math explanations are too elementary for anyone with some University mathematics, which can make some demonstrations too lengthy or boring. I still liked it though, and would recommend it to anyone with interest in math, but not quite a profound understanding
11 people found this helpful
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- Jeffrey Check
- 08-10-18
way too simplistic if you know math
the elementary level of math the author assumes in the listener starts to get annoying by the 3rd chapter and never lets up. great for a zero math person though. should have said "for english majors" on the cover.
8 people found this helpful
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- Patrick Mullane
- 07-25-21
A good primer spoilt by Author.
When discussing the formula, and not indulging in the author's political progressive preening, a short and interesting introduction to the key Math's equation of Euler's. The book provides context into its place in maths and the wider world, as well as providing a historical bio of Mr. Euler.
6 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-18-20
This does not work as an audible book. Needs PDF
There are pages and pages of equations the author goes over which would be OK if there was a PDF to look at but just as a spoken line it is gibberish. I suspect it is ploy to get you to buy the book also but really it is not worth it. You can get most of the same information on Google.
6 people found this helpful
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- Lars Sandum
- 01-18-21
missing PDF's!
Amazing book, truly a great story. Euler was a truly astonishing person, needs a PDF!
5 people found this helpful
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- Blake
- 01-30-18
Audible Math Wasn't Too Bad
Maybe it's just me, but I found it pretty easy to follow the math while just listening. Overall an interesting read.
5 people found this helpful
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- David Mandel
- 04-14-19
Cute book but not suited for audio
Really like the thoughtful way complex math was made approachable and how he walks us though it, but found it almost impossible to follow all the formulaic derivations on audio. This book is definitely in the small subset that cannot be listened to and must be read visually on paper
2 people found this helpful
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- Dale Linney
- 04-12-20
Very good.
Lovely exposition of the formula, its history and some of its uses. The author argues for the transcendent beauty of mathematics, but does not trust the audience to share in his wonder, and so couches some deep insights in silly narratives to make them relevant to the layman. The people reading and listening are likely looking for wonder, he should trust them to appreciate it. Its another example of mathematicians feeling apologetic for their passion. Overall though, he is clear and reveals some of the formula's deep connections.
2 people found this helpful
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- Teresa
- 07-13-21
I enjoyed this book so much!
Sometimes you need all the focus to draw the formulae in your head. Great narration too.
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- Some Guy
- 07-20-19
A great audio adaptation
When I first considered buying this book, I was worried that maths might be a difficult topic to translate into an audio book. As it turns out, it was light on formulas and all very well explained. I would recommend a pen and paper for the latter chapters that delve into infinite series', to ensure you can grasp how they all relate to each other.
Nonetheless, it does justice to important mathematical finding while making sure to stay entertaining at the same time.
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- JayD
- 01-01-21
A subtle and engaging overview
Stipp’s approach to a difficult concept is well-structured, delivered in a manner that gradually reveals the genius of Euler’s equation. It is a book for non-mathematicians with a casual interest in advanced mathematics, however, and in this I think it is quite successful.
The audiobook version (despite the clear, personable narration) needs some form of supporting material to be truly effective. The printed book clearly has diagrams and other visual aids to help with especially difficult concepts yet these have not been provided (as a PDF or web address). Without these, the equations can be off-putting and hamper the overall experience.
2 people found this helpful
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- David Sapsford
- 04-27-18
Entertaining
Facinating narative and well constructed story; well read and the mathematics was easy to visualise.
1 person found this helpful
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- Mick
- 07-16-20
Enjoyable journey illustrating the beauty of Math
As an undergraduate studying advanced mathematics, I have a deep passion for all things math. That said, you do not need to be an avid math enthusiast to enjoy this book. A little curiosity is all you need to be swept up by what is essentially a gentle introduction to the beauty and elegance of mathematics.
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- Brief Histories
- By: Brian Clegg
- Narrated by: Gordon Griffin
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Space is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the street to the chemist, but that's just peanuts to space.' Douglas Adams, Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.We human beings have trouble with infinity - yet infinity is a surprisingly human subject. Philosophers and mathematicians have gone mad contemplating its nature and complexity - yet it is a concept routinely used by schoolchildren. Exploring the infinite is a
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Really not great in Audio, not great otherwise
- By Michael on 03-29-13
By: Brian Clegg
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The Equation That Couldn't Be Solved
- How Mathematical Genius Discovered the Language of Symmetry
- By: Mario Livio
- Narrated by: Tom Parks
- Length: 11 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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For thousands of years mathematicians solved progressively more difficult algebraic equations, until they encountered the quintic equation, which resisted solution for three centuries. Working independently, two prodigies ultimately proved that the quintic cannot be solved by a simple formula. The first popular account of the mathematics of symmetry and order, The Equation That Couldn't Be Solved is told not through abstract formulas but in a beautifully written and dramatic account of the lives and work of some of the greatest and most intriguing mathematicians in history.
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Historical Perspective Appreciated
- By Michael Hanrahan on 01-22-20
By: Mario Livio
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The Golden Ratio
- The Story of Phi, the World's Most Astonishing Number
- By: Mario Livio
- Narrated by: Mel Foster
- Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Throughout history, thinkers from mathematicians to theologians have pondered the mysterious relationship between numbers and the nature of reality. In this fascinating book, Mario Livio tells the tale of a number at the heart of that mystery: phi, or 1.6180339887.... This curious mathematical relationship, widely known as "The Golden Ratio", was discovered by Euclid more than 2,000 years ago. Since then it has shown a propensity to appear in the most astonishing variety of places.
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Tedious Listen
- By Amanda Halsdorff on 10-25-14
By: Mario Livio
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Significant Figures
- The Lives and Work of Great Mathematicians
- By: Ian Stewart
- Narrated by: Roger Clark
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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In Significant Figures, acclaimed mathematician Ian Stewart introduces the visionaries of mathematics throughout history. Delving into the lives of twenty-five great mathematicians, Stewart examines the roles they played in creating, inventing, and discovering the mathematics we use today. Through these short biographies, we get acquainted with the history of mathematics.
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Beware
- By Anton Kurtz on 12-08-18
By: Ian Stewart
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When Einstein Walked with Gödel
- Excursions to the Edge of Thought
- By: Jim Holt
- Narrated by: David Stifel
- Length: 15 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Does time exist? What is infinity? Why do mirrors reverse left and right but not up and down? In this scintillating collection, Holt explores the human mind, the cosmos, and the thinkers who’ve tried to encompass the latter with the former. With his trademark clarity and humor, Holt probes the mysteries of quantum mechanics, the quest for the foundations of mathematics, and the nature of logic and truth. Along the way, he offers intimate biographical sketches of celebrated and neglected thinkers, from the physicist Emmy Noether to the computing pioneer Alan Turing and the discoverer of fractals, Benoit Mandelbrot.
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A good overview of scientific theory
- By Kindle Customer on 09-11-18
By: Jim Holt
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Euclid's Window
- The Story of Geometry from Parallel Lines to Hyperspace
- By: Leonard Mlodinow
- Narrated by: Robert Blumenfeld
- Length: 8 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
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Through Euclid's Window Leonard Mlodinow brilliantly and delightfully leads us on a journey through five revolutions in geometry, from the Greek concept of parallel lines to the latest notions of hyperspace. Here is an altogether new, refreshing, alternative history of math revealing how simple questions anyone might ask about space -- in the living room or in some other galaxy -- have been the hidden engine of the highest achievements in science and technology.
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Wow!
- By Eric on 08-13-10
By: Leonard Mlodinow