Have you ever thought of math as terrific fun? Stewart (mathematics, Univ. of Warwick, UK; Why Beauty Is Truth: The History of Symmetry) makes it that and more. His engaging writing style draws readers into the story of mathematics, giving it an arc and its players charismatic personalities, even when those "players" are notation systems. In each chapter, Stewart chronologically examines a particular area of mathematics. He gives accessible, real-world examples that are easy to visualize and often illustrate the impact of complicated mathematical concepts on our daily lives. From tally marks and numerals, to Euclid and Pythagoras, to imaginary numbers and chaos theory, to Gödel and Faraday, Stewart offers an insightful and clear history of mathematical developments. The diagrams and illustrations are comprehensible for lay readers yet not condescendingly simple. Throughout, Stewart examines the discoveries of great mathematicians and offers absorbing anecdotes about their lives in special callouts throughout the book. VERDICT Clear and readable, this is an essential title for math, science, and technology buffs and will be intriguing for all. It might even be of interest to teens! Highly recommended.—Candice Kail, Columbia Univ. Libs., New York