The Joy of X A Guided Tour of Math, from One to Infinity by Steven Strogatz

             I read the book The Joy of X A Guided Tour of Math, from One to Infinity by Steven Strogatz. All topics of math are addressed in this book in a way that anyone can understand. You do not need to be a math major or a mathematician to understand and enjoy this novel.

            The book is split up into six parts: Numbers, Algebra, Shapes, Change, Data, and Frontiers. Numbers addresses negative numbers, multiplying versus addition, division, and representing numbers. The second part about algebra discusses how algebra involves variables, imaginary numbers, word problems, and functions. Next, the book talks about shapes, geometry, proofs, and pi. After Shapes, the fourth part is about change which includes calculus, differential equations, and vectors. The fifth part is Data which talks about statistics, probability, and linear algebra. The last part is Frontiers which covers number theory, group theory, topology, and spherical geometry.

            Although this may sound like too many topics to address in one book, the author does a nice job. First, the book starts with easier topics and then slowly moves to more challenging mathematics. Throughout each chapter, Steven Strogatz does an excellent job of giving examples for every topic. These examples explain how these complicated math concepts apply to everyone’s day to day life. Additionally, he gives many diagrams and visuals to help you further understand what he is explaining. In part six, for example, he describes how group theory can be explained through how you flip your mattress to make sure it wears evenly by giving visuals and easy solutions.

            The Joy of X is a great read for many audiences. Teachers could find examples that would help them explain to their students how the math they are learning in class applies to their real lives. Math majors receive an overview of many of the topics they have learned throughout their studies and they may find an explanation they had never heard before to find further clarification. Anyone who dislikes math can read this and learn how math is all around them. I think everyone will find more joy in math when they read this book.

            Personally, right from the beginning, the book captured my attention with the following quote, “math always involves both invention and discovery: we invent the concepts but discover the consequences” (5). I don’t think I have ever thought about math like this before. Mathematicians defined what numbers mean and what addition means, but have no way of controlling the results of what they have defined.

            I highly recommend you read this book. It is an easy read and will help you see math in a whole new way. You will finally understand the importance of what your teacher was teaching you in high school, or you will find the beauty of math and how it is found all around you.