Significant Figures: The Lives and Work of Great Mathematicians

One of the stated goals of this book is to dispel the idea that mathematicians are boring, and this delightful title goes a long way toward that aim. In 25 brief chapters, Stewart (mathematics, Univ. of Warwick, UK; Infinity: A Very Short Introduction) profiles a wide range of renowned mathematicians, men and women, from many countries and educational backgrounds. The author provides capsule biographies of the mathematicians. An overview of their contributions is followed by a more in-depth look at their work placed in the context of their life story. Usually, this is capped off with an explanation of how their achievements are important to mathematics or to everyday life. This last section is particularly noteworthy because readers who have not previously studied math at the college level are unlikely to comprehend the equations. Still, overall, Stewart succeeds, demonstrating the interconnectedness of mathematics: most chapters make reference to at least one other character in the book, plus a host of others deemed insufficiently impressive to warrant their own treatment.