Description
Book SynopsisThis fascinating narrative history of math in America introduces readers to the diverse and vibrant people behind pivotal moments in the nation's mathematical maturation. Once upon a time in America, few knew or cared about math. In Republic of Numbers, David Lindsay Roberts tells the story of how all that changed, as America transformed into a powerhouse of mathematical thinkers. Covering more than 200 years of American history, Roberts recounts the life stories of twenty-three Americans integral to the evolution of mathematics in this country. Beginning with self-taught Salem mathematician Nathaniel Bowditch's unexpected breakthroughs in ocean navigation and closing with the astounding work Nobel laureate John Nash did on game theory, this book is meant to be read cover to cover. Revealing the marvelous ways in which America became mathematically sophisticated, the book introduces readers to Kelly Miller, the first black man to attend Johns Hopkins, who brilliantly melded mathemati
Trade ReviewThis charming collection of 20 "unexpected stories of mathematical Americans through history" focuses not only on the greatest US mathematical minds . . . Abraham Lincoln, self-trained as a surveyor, later studied Euclid — as demonstrated in his Gettysburg Address, "dedicated to the
proposition that all men are created equal".
—Andrew Robinson,
NatureIn
Republic of Numbers, author and alum David Lindsay Roberts weaves eclectic and entertaining stories about math and mathematicians across two centuries of U.S. history . . . Pleasure in math links lives across more than two centuries in Roberts' elegant and eye-opening work of intellectual history. Mathematicians and math teachers will find in it an eclectic family history of their fields, with special attention to lesser-known characters, especially ones whose achievements beat the odds set against their race, sex, or background. But readers not excited by higher math will also enjoy these 20 deeply researched and gracefully narrated biographical essays.
—Rosemary Hutzler Raun,
Johns Hopkins University HUBRoberts is to be congratulated for reminding us that the history of mathematics includes those who teach and practice useful mathematics as well as those who create abstract mathematics.
—Scott Guthery,
MAA ReviewsThis collection of brief biographies of two dozen Americans who relate to mathematics in various ways does not claim to present a representative cross-section or a selection of the most important figures or even the most colorful figures. Each story, however, reveals a unique tie to the history of the country, resulting in a loosely woven national history as seen through a sample of citizens who also reflect something of the progress of American mathematics . . . The emphasis is more on how people came to mathematics and how, native born or immigrant, their lives are connected to the society of their time and sometimes to each other in some remarkable ways.
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Mathematical Reviews[
Republic of Numbers] is a work of art, in the sense that it feels new and original, and leaves the reader (at least this one) with a bit of awe . . . For anyone interested in the history of American mathematics, this book is a must read . . . The
Republic of Numbers offers readers a fascinating and very human journey through a wide swath of history. I'm amazed at what Dave Roberts has been able to pack into a relatively compact book.
—Andrew Perry,
Canadian Society for the History and Philosophy of Mathematics (CSHPM)Republic of Numbers should appeal to any reader interested in mathematics in its historical and social context.
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Notices of the American Mathematical SocietyAn informative and worthwhile read.
—Wallace A. Ferguson, Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School, Ramsgate,
Mathematics TodayTable of ContentsIntroduction
Chapter 1. A Practical Navigator: Nathaniel Bowditch, 1806
Chapter 2. Hudson River School: Sylvanus Thayer, 1815
Chapter 3. Political Arithmetic: Abraham Lincoln, 1826
Chapter 4. Textbook Messages: Catherine Beecher and Joseph Ray, 1832
Chapter 5. Learning to Count: J. Willard Gibbs, 1841
Chapter 6. Naval Reserve: Charles H. Davis, 1857
Chapter 7. General Principles: Daniel Harvey Hill, 1862
Chapter 8. Fellow Worker: Christine Ladd-Franklin, 1878
Chapter 9. Straddler: Kelly Miller, 1887
Chapter 10. Frontiersmen: Herman Hollerith and E. H. Moore, 1893
Chapter 11. Poetic Historian: E. T. Bell, 1906
Chapter 12. Man of School Mathematics: Charles M. Austin, 1914
Chapter 13. Organization Man: E. B. Wilson, 1922
Chapter 14. Versed in Math: Lillian R. Lieber and Hugh G. Lieber, 1931
Chapter 15. Machine Whisperer: Grace Hopper, 1941
Chapter 16. Survivor: Izaak Wirszup, 1956
Chapter 17. Carrying Old Virginny Forward: Edgar L. Edwards Jr., 1960
Chapter 18. Americano: Joaquin Basilio Diaz, 1974
Chapter 19. Math Warrior: Frank B. Allen, 1984
Chapter 20. Suspicious Minds: John F. Nash Jr., 1994
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Selected Bibliography
Index
