The pleasures of counting
What is the connection between the outbreak of cholera in Victorian Soho, the Battle of the Atlantic, African Eve and the design of anchors? One answer is that they are all examples chosen by Dr Tom Körner to show how a little mathematics can shed light on the world around us, and deepen our understanding of it. Dr Körner, an experienced author, describes a variety of topics which continue to interest professional mathematicians, like him. He does this using relatively simple terms and ideas, yet confronting difficulties (which are often the starting point for new discoveries) and avoiding condescension. If you have ever wondered what it is that mathematicians do, and how they go about it, then read on. If you are a mathematician wanting to explain to others how you spend your working days (and nights), then seek inspiration here.
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6recommend
24mentions
8people
2009–2026years
63% recommend38% neutral
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What Hacker News says
- I read it cover to cove back in the day and enjoyed it. But I'm not sure more people should read it today.
If they do and enjoy it, good for them! But many parts haven't aged all that well.
However, I can still very warmly recommend 'The Pleasures of Counting' to this very day.
- I enjoyed T. W. Körner's The Pleasures of Counting ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521568234 ).
- Not directly about RAND, but related to Operations Research: Tom Körner has an excellent book called 'The Pleasures of Counting'. See eg https://www.ams.org/notices/199803/comm-bkrev-blank.pdf for a review.
- > EDIT: rephrased because despite having a maths degree I can't count.
You would probably enjoy Tom Körner's book 'The Pleasures of Counting'. See eg https://maa.org/press/maa-reviews/the-pleasures-of-counting
- Oh, I didn't mind the length too much. You can benefit from each individual chapter.
> What books would you recommend instead?
'Think Python' is a good introduction to programming in general. https://greenteapress.com/wp/think-python-2e/
'How To Design Programs' is another good introduction. https://htdp.org/2020-8-1/Book/part_preface.html
For functional programming in general, Okasaki's 'Purely Functional Datastructures' is a real treat.
Paul Graham's 'On Lisp' is worth reading. It's a bit on the pragmatic side. http://www.paulgraham.com/onlisp.html
Above all of them, the best book in general is 'The Pleasures of Counting'.
- The Pleasures of Counting by T. W. Körner. If you want something more oriented towards analysis, I see he also authored a Calculus for the Ambitious but I have no experience with it.
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