How Not to Be Wrong

BOOK SUMMARY

The math we learn in school can seem like a dull set of rules, laid down by the ancients and not to be questioned. In How Not to Be Wrong, Jordan Ellenberg shows us how terribly limiting this view is: math isn’t confined to abstract incidents that never occur in real life, but rather touches everything we do—the whole world is shot through with it.

Math allows us to see the hidden structures underneath the messy and chaotic surface of our world. It’s a science of not being wrong, hammered out by centuries of hard work and argument. Armed with the tools of mathematics, we can see through to the true meaning of information we take for granted, from public opinion and medical studies to elections and everyday decision-making.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jordan Ellenberg is the John D. MacArthur Professor of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a 2015 Guggenheim fellow. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, Wired, and The Believer. He writes the popular “Do the Math” column for Slate and lectures widely on mathematics and its applications to everyday life.

PRAISE

“Brilliantly engaging…Ellenberg’s talent for finding real-life situations that enshrine mathematical principles would be the envy of any math teacher.”
—Manil Suri, The Washington Post

“Easy-to-follow, humorously presented…This book will help you realize that mathematical reasoning permeates our lives.”
—Mario Livio, The Wall Street Journal

“Witty, compelling, and just plain fun to read…How Not to Be Wrong can help you explore your mathematical superpowers.”
—Evelyn Lamb, Scientific American

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Trade paperback
480 pages
Non-fiction
8.4 in H | 5.4 in W | 1.1 in T | 0.8 lb