Book Review: Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities

            Another book written by Ian Stewart, yes you heard it right Ian Stewart the one who wrote The Mathematics of Life, entitled Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities really cracked the hell out of me. At first I thought that this book would contain a lot of “alien” question about mathematics that was compiled over the years across cultures because the title gave me an initial idea that this book might have weird things to discuss again. Well apparently it did, but in a more user friendly, humorous, and challenging way.

             The book is a collection of the mathematical fun Stewart had from his childhood and I could say he was really lucky to find joy in mathematics at such a young age. As I was going over some items I couldn’t help but unconsciously do math and think of possible logical patterns to solve a problem. I guess I would love to print a copy of this book and have my child read and answer these puzzles (poor child J) since the items found in the book is really stimulating. Indeed the book was able to live up to its title since it was able to stir my curiosity as well when I least expected it to be. I mean Stewart is a good writer, and a passionate one I should say, but I ever thought that I would be hooked and actually enjoy the reading experience. At first I thought that this is just another one of those requirements that I need to do but later I didn’t notice that I almost skipped dinner trying to solve the Murder in the Park section. (Guys don’t get the wrong idea that I dedicated a portion of my life trying to solve all of the problems I just skimmed over and did what problem caught my attention). I guess I would be underestimating the brilliance of Stewart and this book if I would say that this should not be considered as a mathematics books but rather a coffee table book which you only read whenever you are bored.

            This book is unlike those thick and technical books in some cabinets found in the library because this book does not need to have the weird looking graphs and the seemingly complicated solutions in order for you to be stimulated to do math because this book effortlessly forces you to do so. I would agree that not all of math can be learned in the classroom and I think that these kinds of mathematics are more interesting.