-
Numbers
- A Very Short Introduction
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 5 hrs and 9 mins
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Numbers
Buy for $13.99
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Logic
- A Very Short Introduction, 2nd Edition
- By: Graham Priest
- Narrated by: Kyle Tait
- Length: 4 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7
Logic is often perceived as having little to do with the rest of philosophy, and even less to do with real life. In this lively and accessible introduction, Graham Priest shows how wrong this conception is. He explores the philosophical roots of the subject, explaining how modern formal logic deals with issues ranging from the existence of God and the reality of time to paradoxes of probability and decision theory. Along the way, the basics of formal logic are explained in simple, non-technical terms, showing that logic is a powerful and exciting part of modern philosophy.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
A bit disappointing.
- By MarshallP1991 on 12-16-21
By: Graham Priest
-
Bacteria
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Sebastian Amyes
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4
Bacteria form a fundamental branch of life. They are the oldest forms of life and the most prolific of all living organisms, inhabiting every part of the Earth's surface, its ocean depths, and even such inhospitable places as boiling hot springs. In this Very Short Introduction, bacteriologist Sebastian Amyes explores the nature of bacteria, their origin and evolution, bacteria in the environment, and bacteria and disease.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
well done
- By Kim on 08-31-22
By: Sebastian Amyes
-
Geology
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Jan Zalasiewicz
- Narrated by: Eric Martin
- Length: 4 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 48
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 41
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 41
In this Very Short Introduction audiobook, Jan Zalasiewicz gives a brief introduction to the fascinating field of geology. Describing how the science developed from its early beginnings, he looks at some of the key discoveries that have transformed it before delving into its various subfields, such as sedimentology, tectonics, and stratigraphy.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Geology and climate change
- By Dr. Pops on 03-15-23
By: Jan Zalasiewicz
-
Planetary Systems
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Raymond T. Pierrehumbert
- Narrated by: Mike Cooper
- Length: 4 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 3
Not long ago, the Solar System was the only example of a planetary system - a star and the bodies orbiting it - that we knew. Now, we know thousands of planetary systems, and have even been able to observe planetary systems at the moment of their birth.
-
Nothing
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Frank Close
- Narrated by: Ray Chase
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 9
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 8
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 8
This short, smart book tells you everything you need to know about "nothing". What remains when you take all the matter away? Can empty space - "nothing" - exist? To answer these questions, eminent scientist Frank Close takes us on a lively and accessible journey that ranges from ancient ideas and cultural superstitions to the frontiers of current research, illuminating the story of how scientists have explored the void and the rich discoveries they have made there.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Uniquely insightful
- By James S. on 03-04-23
By: Frank Close
-
The Earth
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Martin Redfern
- Narrated by: Diane Cardea
- Length: 4 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2
This Introduction audiobook explores emerging geological research and explains how new advances in the understanding of plate tectonics, seismology, and satellite imagery have enabled us to begin to see the Earth as it actually is: dynamic and ever-changing.
By: Martin Redfern
-
Logic
- A Very Short Introduction, 2nd Edition
- By: Graham Priest
- Narrated by: Kyle Tait
- Length: 4 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7
Logic is often perceived as having little to do with the rest of philosophy, and even less to do with real life. In this lively and accessible introduction, Graham Priest shows how wrong this conception is. He explores the philosophical roots of the subject, explaining how modern formal logic deals with issues ranging from the existence of God and the reality of time to paradoxes of probability and decision theory. Along the way, the basics of formal logic are explained in simple, non-technical terms, showing that logic is a powerful and exciting part of modern philosophy.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
A bit disappointing.
- By MarshallP1991 on 12-16-21
By: Graham Priest
-
Bacteria
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Sebastian Amyes
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 4 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 5
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4
Bacteria form a fundamental branch of life. They are the oldest forms of life and the most prolific of all living organisms, inhabiting every part of the Earth's surface, its ocean depths, and even such inhospitable places as boiling hot springs. In this Very Short Introduction, bacteriologist Sebastian Amyes explores the nature of bacteria, their origin and evolution, bacteria in the environment, and bacteria and disease.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
well done
- By Kim on 08-31-22
By: Sebastian Amyes
-
Geology
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Jan Zalasiewicz
- Narrated by: Eric Martin
- Length: 4 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 48
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 41
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 41
In this Very Short Introduction audiobook, Jan Zalasiewicz gives a brief introduction to the fascinating field of geology. Describing how the science developed from its early beginnings, he looks at some of the key discoveries that have transformed it before delving into its various subfields, such as sedimentology, tectonics, and stratigraphy.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Geology and climate change
- By Dr. Pops on 03-15-23
By: Jan Zalasiewicz
-
Planetary Systems
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Raymond T. Pierrehumbert
- Narrated by: Mike Cooper
- Length: 4 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 3
Not long ago, the Solar System was the only example of a planetary system - a star and the bodies orbiting it - that we knew. Now, we know thousands of planetary systems, and have even been able to observe planetary systems at the moment of their birth.
-
Nothing
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Frank Close
- Narrated by: Ray Chase
- Length: 4 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 9
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 8
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 8
This short, smart book tells you everything you need to know about "nothing". What remains when you take all the matter away? Can empty space - "nothing" - exist? To answer these questions, eminent scientist Frank Close takes us on a lively and accessible journey that ranges from ancient ideas and cultural superstitions to the frontiers of current research, illuminating the story of how scientists have explored the void and the rich discoveries they have made there.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Uniquely insightful
- By James S. on 03-04-23
By: Frank Close
-
The Earth
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Martin Redfern
- Narrated by: Diane Cardea
- Length: 4 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 2
This Introduction audiobook explores emerging geological research and explains how new advances in the understanding of plate tectonics, seismology, and satellite imagery have enabled us to begin to see the Earth as it actually is: dynamic and ever-changing.
By: Martin Redfern
-
Time
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Jennan Ismael
- Narrated by: Kate Zane
- Length: 3 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 11
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 9
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 9
What is time? What does it mean for time to pass? Is it possible to travel in time? What is the difference between the past and future? Until the work of Newton, these questions were purely topics of philosophical speculation. Since then we've learned a great deal about time, and its study has moved from a subject of philosophical reflection to instead became part of the subject matter of physics.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great book
- By Sergey on 01-08-23
By: Jennan Ismael
-
Witchcraft
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Malcom Gaskill
- Narrated by: Victor Bevine
- Length: 4 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 4
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 2
Taking a historical perspective from the ancient world to contemporary paganism, Gaskill reveals how witchcraft has meant different things to different people and that in every age it has raised questions about the distinction between fantasy and reality, faith and proof. Telling stories, delving into court records, and challenging myths, Gaskill examines the witch hunts of the 16th and 17th centuries and explores the reinvention of witchcraft - as history, religion, fiction, and metaphor.
By: Malcom Gaskill
-
Ecology
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Jaboury Ghazoul
- Narrated by: Dennis Kleinman
- Length: 4 hrs and 36 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 18
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 16
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 16
This Very Short Introduction audiobook celebrates the centrality of ecology in our lives. Jaboury Ghazoul explores how ecology has evolved rapidly from natural history to become a predictive science that explains how the natural world works and which guides environmental policy and management decisions.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Fantastic But A Problem With The Graphs
- By Drone Boy on 01-04-21
By: Jaboury Ghazoul
-
A Brief History of Mathematics
- Complete Series
- By: Marcus du Sautoy
- Narrated by: Marcus du Sautoy
- Length: 2 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 60
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 51
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 49
This 10-part history of mathematics reveals the personalities behind the calculations: the passions and rivalries of mathematicians struggling to get their ideas heard. Professor Marcus du Sautoy shows how these masters of abstraction find a role in the real world and proves that mathematics is the driving force behind modern science.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
not a book
- By bob on 06-22-21
By: Marcus du Sautoy
-
Palestinian-Israeli Conflict
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Martin Bunton
- Narrated by: Neil Shah
- Length: 4 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 39
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 31
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 31
The conflict between Palestine and Israel is one of the most highly publicized and bitter struggles in history. In this accessible and stimulating Very Short Introduction, Martin Bunton clearly explains the history of the problem, reducing it to its very essence - a modern territorial contest between two nations and one geographical territory.Providing a clear and fair exploration of the main issues, Bunton explores not only the historical basis of the conflict, but also looks at how and why partition has been so difficult and how efforts to restore peace continue today.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Even-handed.
- By Tom Judge on 11-15-23
By: Martin Bunton
-
Mathematics
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Timothy Gowers
- Narrated by: Craig Jessen
- Length: 5 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 9
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7
The aim of this book is to explain, carefully but not technically, the differences between advanced, research-level mathematics and the sort of mathematics we learn at school. The most fundamental differences are philosophical, and listeners of this book will emerge with a clearer understanding of paradoxical-sounding concepts such as infinity, curved space, and imaginary numbers. The first few chapters are about general aspects of mathematical thought.
By: Timothy Gowers
-
Foucault (2nd Edition)
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Gary Gutting
- Narrated by: David de Vries
- Length: 3 hrs and 56 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 21
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 17
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 16
In this Very Short Introduction audiobook, Gary Gutting presents a wide-ranging but nonsystematic exploration of some highlights of Foucault's life and thought. Beginning with a brief biography to set the social and political stage, he then tackles Foucault's thoughts on literature, in particular the avant-garde scene; his philosophical and historical work; his treatment of knowledge and power in modern society; and his thoughts on sexuality.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Good after the start.
- By Berel Dov Lerner on 10-18-23
By: Gary Gutting
-
Renewable Energy
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Nick Jelley
- Narrated by: Danny Campbell
- Length: 4 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 10
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 7
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 7
Energy is vital for a good standard of living, and much of the world's population does not have enough. Affordable and adequate sources of power that do not cause climate change or pollution are crucial; and renewables provide the answer. Wind and solar farms can now provide the cheapest electricity in many parts of the world. Moreover, they could provide all of the world's energy needs.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Deserves 5 stars if a companion pdf was included
- By Shihab Abdalla on 08-12-21
By: Nick Jelley
-
The Joy of x
- A Guided Tour of Math, from One to Infinity
- By: Steven Strogatz
- Narrated by: Jonathan Yen
- Length: 6 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 475
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 383
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 381
Many people take math in high school and promptly forget much of it. But math plays a part in all of our lives all of the time, whether we know it or not. In The Joy of x, Steven Strogatz expands on his hit New York Times series to explain the big ideas of math gently and clearly, with wit, and insight.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great listen
- By cameron on 08-16-19
By: Steven Strogatz
-
The Periodic Table
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Eric R. Scerri
- Narrated by: Eric Scerri
- Length: 4 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 3
The periodic table of elements, first encountered by many of us at school, provides an arrangement of the chemical elements, ordered by their atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring chemical properties, and divided into periodic trends. In this Very Short Introduction audiobook, Eric R. Scerri looks at the trends in properties of elements that led to the construction of the table and shows how the deeper meaning of the table's structure gradually became apparent with the development of atomic theory.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Atomic mass or atomic number
- By Kiaf on 07-09-23
By: Eric R. Scerri
-
The Sun
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Philip Judge
- Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
- Length: 5 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 6
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 4
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 4
The Sun, as our nearest star, is of enormous importance for life on Earth, providing the warm radiation and light which allowed complex life to evolve. The Sun plays a key role in influencing our climate, while solar storms and high-energy events can threaten our communication infrastructure and satellites.
By: Philip Judge
-
The Philosopher's Toolkit: How to Be the Most Rational Person in Any Room
- By: Patrick Grim, The Great Courses
- Narrated by: Patrick Grim
- Length: 12 hrs and 2 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,176
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,001
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 990
Taught by award-winning Professor Patrick Grim of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, The Philosopher’s Toolkit: How to Be the Most Rational Person in Any Room arms you against the perils of bad thinking and supplies you with an arsenal of strategies to help you be more creative, logical, inventive, realistic, and rational in all aspects of your daily life.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
This should NOT be an audio book
- By Brooks Emerson on 03-21-20
By: Patrick Grim, and others
Publisher's summary
Numbers are integral to our everyday lives and factor into almost everything we do. In this Very Short Introduction audiobook, Peter M. Higgins, a renowned popular-science writer, unravels the world of numbers, demonstrating its richness and providing an overview of all the number types that feature in modern science and mathematics. Indeed, Higgins paints a crystal-clear picture of the number world, showing how the modern number system matured over many centuries, and introducing key concepts such as integers, fractions, real and imaginary numbers, and complex numbers. Higgins sheds light on such fascinating topics as the series of primes, describing how primes are now used to encrypt confidential data on the internet. He also explores the infinite nature of number collections and explains how the so-called real numbers knit together to form the continuum of the number line.
Written in the fashion of Higgins' highly popular science paperbacks, Numbers accurately explains the nature of numbers and how so-called complex numbers and number systems are used in calculations that arise in real problems.
More from the same
Related to this topic
-
A Brief History of Infinity: The Quest to Think the Unthinkable
- Brief Histories
- By: Brian Clegg
- Narrated by: Gordon Griffin
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 40
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 34
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 34
Space is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the street to the chemist, but that's just peanuts to space.' Douglas Adams, Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.We human beings have trouble with infinity - yet infinity is a surprisingly human subject. Philosophers and mathematicians have gone mad contemplating its nature and complexity - yet it is a concept routinely used by schoolchildren. Exploring the infinite is a
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Really not great in Audio, not great otherwise
- By Michael on 03-29-13
By: Brian Clegg
-
A Most Elegant Equation
- Euler’s Formula and the Beauty of Mathematics
- By: David Stipp
- Narrated by: Sean Pratt
- Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 298
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 266
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 263
Bertrand Russell wrote that mathematics can exalt "as surely as poetry". This is especially true of one equation: ei(pi) + 1 = 0, the brainchild of Leonhard Euler, the Mozart of mathematics. More than two centuries after Euler's death, it is still regarded as a conceptual diamond of unsurpassed beauty. Called Euler's identity, or God's equation, it includes just five numbers but represents an astonishing revelation of hidden connections.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Good treatment of the subject
- By Kindle Customer on 04-09-18
By: David Stipp
-
The Golden Ratio
- The Story of Phi, the World's Most Astonishing Number
- By: Mario Livio
- Narrated by: Mel Foster
- Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 160
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 134
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 134
Throughout history, thinkers from mathematicians to theologians have pondered the mysterious relationship between numbers and the nature of reality. In this fascinating book, Mario Livio tells the tale of a number at the heart of that mystery: phi, or 1.6180339887.... This curious mathematical relationship, widely known as "The Golden Ratio", was discovered by Euclid more than 2,000 years ago. Since then it has shown a propensity to appear in the most astonishing variety of places.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Tedious Listen
- By Amanda Halsdorff on 10-25-14
By: Mario Livio
-
The King of Infinite Space
- Euclid and His Elements
- By: David Berlinski
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 43
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 37
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 38
Geometry defines the world around us, helping us make sense of everything from architecture to military science to fashion. And for over 2,000 years, geometry has been equated with Euclid's Elements, arguably the most influential book in the history of mathematics. In The King of Infinite Space, renowned mathematics writer David Berlinski provides a concise homage to this elusive mathematician and his staggering achievements.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Funniest Highest and Fullest math overview
- By Francisco Garcia on 12-12-22
By: David Berlinski
-
Is God a Mathematician?
- By: Mario Livio
- Narrated by: Tom Parks
- Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 70
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 61
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 61
Nobel Laureate Eugene Wigner once wondered about "the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics" in the formulation of the laws of nature. Is God a Mathematician? investigates why mathematics is as powerful as it is. From ancient times to the present, scientists and philosophers have marveled at how such a seemingly abstract discipline could so perfectly explain the natural world. More than that - mathematics has often made predictions, for example, about subatomic particles or cosmic phenomena that were unknown at the time, but later were proven to be true.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Origins of Mathematics
- By Rick B on 07-08-21
By: Mario Livio
-
Significant Figures
- The Lives and Work of Great Mathematicians
- By: Ian Stewart
- Narrated by: Roger Clark
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 248
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 207
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 207
In Significant Figures, acclaimed mathematician Ian Stewart introduces the visionaries of mathematics throughout history. Delving into the lives of twenty-five great mathematicians, Stewart examines the roles they played in creating, inventing, and discovering the mathematics we use today. Through these short biographies, we get acquainted with the history of mathematics.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Beware
- By Anton Kurtz on 12-08-18
By: Ian Stewart
-
A Brief History of Infinity: The Quest to Think the Unthinkable
- Brief Histories
- By: Brian Clegg
- Narrated by: Gordon Griffin
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 40
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 34
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 34
Space is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the street to the chemist, but that's just peanuts to space.' Douglas Adams, Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy.We human beings have trouble with infinity - yet infinity is a surprisingly human subject. Philosophers and mathematicians have gone mad contemplating its nature and complexity - yet it is a concept routinely used by schoolchildren. Exploring the infinite is a
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Really not great in Audio, not great otherwise
- By Michael on 03-29-13
By: Brian Clegg
-
A Most Elegant Equation
- Euler’s Formula and the Beauty of Mathematics
- By: David Stipp
- Narrated by: Sean Pratt
- Length: 5 hrs and 2 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 298
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 266
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 263
Bertrand Russell wrote that mathematics can exalt "as surely as poetry". This is especially true of one equation: ei(pi) + 1 = 0, the brainchild of Leonhard Euler, the Mozart of mathematics. More than two centuries after Euler's death, it is still regarded as a conceptual diamond of unsurpassed beauty. Called Euler's identity, or God's equation, it includes just five numbers but represents an astonishing revelation of hidden connections.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Good treatment of the subject
- By Kindle Customer on 04-09-18
By: David Stipp
-
The Golden Ratio
- The Story of Phi, the World's Most Astonishing Number
- By: Mario Livio
- Narrated by: Mel Foster
- Length: 10 hrs and 13 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 160
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 134
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 134
Throughout history, thinkers from mathematicians to theologians have pondered the mysterious relationship between numbers and the nature of reality. In this fascinating book, Mario Livio tells the tale of a number at the heart of that mystery: phi, or 1.6180339887.... This curious mathematical relationship, widely known as "The Golden Ratio", was discovered by Euclid more than 2,000 years ago. Since then it has shown a propensity to appear in the most astonishing variety of places.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
Tedious Listen
- By Amanda Halsdorff on 10-25-14
By: Mario Livio
-
The King of Infinite Space
- Euclid and His Elements
- By: David Berlinski
- Narrated by: Arthur Morey
- Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 43
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 37
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 38
Geometry defines the world around us, helping us make sense of everything from architecture to military science to fashion. And for over 2,000 years, geometry has been equated with Euclid's Elements, arguably the most influential book in the history of mathematics. In The King of Infinite Space, renowned mathematics writer David Berlinski provides a concise homage to this elusive mathematician and his staggering achievements.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Funniest Highest and Fullest math overview
- By Francisco Garcia on 12-12-22
By: David Berlinski
-
Is God a Mathematician?
- By: Mario Livio
- Narrated by: Tom Parks
- Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 70
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 61
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 61
Nobel Laureate Eugene Wigner once wondered about "the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics" in the formulation of the laws of nature. Is God a Mathematician? investigates why mathematics is as powerful as it is. From ancient times to the present, scientists and philosophers have marveled at how such a seemingly abstract discipline could so perfectly explain the natural world. More than that - mathematics has often made predictions, for example, about subatomic particles or cosmic phenomena that were unknown at the time, but later were proven to be true.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Origins of Mathematics
- By Rick B on 07-08-21
By: Mario Livio
-
Significant Figures
- The Lives and Work of Great Mathematicians
- By: Ian Stewart
- Narrated by: Roger Clark
- Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 248
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 207
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 207
In Significant Figures, acclaimed mathematician Ian Stewart introduces the visionaries of mathematics throughout history. Delving into the lives of twenty-five great mathematicians, Stewart examines the roles they played in creating, inventing, and discovering the mathematics we use today. Through these short biographies, we get acquainted with the history of mathematics.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
Beware
- By Anton Kurtz on 12-08-18
By: Ian Stewart
-
Undeniable
- How Biology Confirms Our Intuition That Life Is Designed
- By: Douglas Axe
- Narrated by: Neil Hellegers
- Length: 7 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 306
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 269
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 268
Throughout his distinguished and unconventional career, engineer-turned-molecular-biologist Douglas Axe has been asking the questions that much of the scientific community would rather silence. Now, he presents his conclusions in this brave and pioneering book. Axe argues that the key to understanding our origin is the "design intuition" - the innate belief held by all humans that tasks we would need knowledge to accomplish can be accomplished only by someone who has that knowledge.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Seductively Challenge what are consider facts
- By Rafael Vila on 10-08-16
By: Douglas Axe
-
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
- By: Thomas S. Kuhn
- Narrated by: Dennis Holland
- Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 1,136
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 818
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 800
A good book may have the power to change the way we see the world, but a great book actually becomes part of our daily consciousness, pervading our thinking to the point that we take it for granted, and we forget how provocative and challenging its ideas once were - and still are. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions is that kind of book.
-
3 out of 5 stars
-
The problem is not with the book
- By Marcus on 08-09-09
By: Thomas S. Kuhn
-
Infinite Powers
- How Calculus Reveals the Secrets of the Universe
- By: Steven Strogatz
- Narrated by: Bob Souer
- Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 669
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 548
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 543
Infinite Powers recounts how calculus tantalized and thrilled its inventors, starting with its first glimmers in ancient Greece and bringing us right up to the discovery of gravitational waves. Strogatz reveals how this form of math rose to the challenges of each age: how to determine the area of a circle with only sand and a stick; how to explain why Mars goes "backwards" sometimes; how to turn the tide in the fight against AIDS.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Not written to be read aloud
- By A Reader in Maine on 02-21-20
By: Steven Strogatz
-
The Intelligent Web
- Search, Smart Algorithms, and Big Data
- By: Gautam Shroff
- Narrated by: Neil Shah
- Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 131
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 109
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 107
As we use the Web for social networking, shopping, and news, we leave a personal trail. These days, linger over a Web page selling lamps, and they will turn up at the advertising margins as you move around the Internet, reminding you, tempting you to make that purchase. Search engines such as Google can now look deep into the data on the Web to pull out instances of the words you are looking for. And there are pages that collect and assess information to give you a snapshot of changing political opinion.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Great book for learning about Deep learning
- By Darkpassenger on 04-16-15
By: Gautam Shroff
-
Proving History
- Bayes's Theorem and the Quest for the Historical Jesus
- By: Richard Carrier
- Narrated by: Richard Carrier
- Length: 13 hrs and 4 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 171
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 149
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 146
This in-depth discussion of New Testament scholarship and the challenges of history as a whole proposes Bayes's Theorem, which deals with probabilities under conditions of uncertainty, as a solution to the problem of establishing reliable historical criteria. The author demonstrates that valid historical methods - not only in the study of Christian origins but in any historical study - can be described by, and reduced to, the logic of Bayes's Theorem. Conversely, he argues that any method that cannot be reduced to this theorem is invalid and should be abandoned.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Good Book, Difficult Format
- By Erin Branscome on 08-21-15
By: Richard Carrier
-
Six Not-So-Easy Pieces
- Einstein's Relativity, Symmetry, and Space-Time
- By: Richard P. Feynman
- Narrated by: Richard P. Feynman
- Length: 5 hrs and 24 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 228
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 132
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 130
No 20th-century American scientist is better known to a wider spectrum of people than Richard P. Feynman (1918-1988), physicist, teacher, author, and cultural icon. His autobiographies and biographies have been read and enjoyed by millions of readers around the world, while his wit and eccentricities have made him the subject of TV specials and even a theatrical film.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Very Interesting, but ...
- By Doug on 01-01-06
-
Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking
- By: Daniel C. Dennett
- Narrated by: Jeff Crawford
- Length: 13 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 419
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 356
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 350
Over a storied career, Daniel C. Dennett has engaged questions about science and the workings of the mind. His answers have combined rigorous argument with strong empirical grounding. And a lot of fun. Intuition Pumps and Other Tools for Thinking offers seventy-seven of Dennett’s most successful “imagination-extenders and focus-holders” meant to guide you through some of life’s most treacherous subject matter: evolution, meaning, mind, and free will.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Loved it, but some philosophy background needed.
- By LongerILiveLessIKnow on 11-14-13
-
The Landscape of History
- How Historians Map the Past
- By: John Lewis Gaddis
- Narrated by: Jack Chekijian
- Length: 6 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 98
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 89
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 85
What is history, and why should we study it? Is there such a thing as historical truth? Is history a science? One of the most accomplished historians at work today, John Lewis Gaddis, answers these and other questions in this short, witty, and humane book. The Landscape of History provides a searching look at the historian's craft as well as a strong argument for why a historical consciousness should matter to us today.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Excellent Book!
- By Billy on 09-15-18
-
What Is Life?
- How Chemistry Becomes Biology
- By: Addy Pross
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars 642
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 561
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 559
Seventy years ago, Erwin Schrdinger posed a simple, yet profound, question: What is life?. How could the very existence of such extraordinary chemical systems be understood? This problem has puzzled biologists and physical scientists both before, and ever since. Living things are hugely complex and have unique properties, such as self-maintenance and apparently purposeful behaviour which we do not see in inert matter. So how does chemistry give rise to biology?
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Profound & Life Changing...
- By Daegan Smith on 04-06-15
By: Addy Pross
-
Where the Conflict Really Lies
- Science, Religion, & Naturalism
- By: Alvin Plantinga
- Narrated by: Michael Butler Murray
- Length: 12 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 245
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 214
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 214
This audiobook is a long-awaited major statement by a pre-eminent analytic philosopher, Alvin Plantinga, on one of our biggest debates - the compatibility of science and religion. The last twenty years has seen a cottage industry of books on this divide, but with little consensus emerging. Plantinga, as a top philosopher but also a proponent of the rationality of religious belief, has a unique contribution to make. His theme in this short book is that the conflict between science and theistic religion is actually superficial, and that at a deeper level they are in concord.
-
2 out of 5 stars
-
The reader makes or breaks an audiobook.
- By Alec on 02-16-15
By: Alvin Plantinga
-
The Master Algorithm
- How the Quest for the Ultimate Learning Machine Will Remake Our World
- By: Pedro Domingos
- Narrated by: Mel Foster
- Length: 13 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 1,666
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 1,425
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 1,419
Under the aegis of machine learning in our data-driven machine age, computers are programming themselves and learning about - and solving - an extraordinary range of problems, from the mundane to the most daunting. Today it is machine learning programs that enable Amazon and Netflix to predict what users will like, Apple to power Siri's ability to understand voices, and Google to pilot cars.
-
4 out of 5 stars
-
Great book, irritating narration
- By N. G. PEPIN on 09-24-15
By: Pedro Domingos
-
When Einstein Walked with Gödel
- Excursions to the Edge of Thought
- By: Jim Holt
- Narrated by: David Stifel
- Length: 15 hrs and 19 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 626
-
Performance4.5 out of 5 stars 531
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 533
Does time exist? What is infinity? Why do mirrors reverse left and right but not up and down? In this scintillating collection, Holt explores the human mind, the cosmos, and the thinkers who’ve tried to encompass the latter with the former. With his trademark clarity and humor, Holt probes the mysteries of quantum mechanics, the quest for the foundations of mathematics, and the nature of logic and truth. Along the way, he offers intimate biographical sketches of celebrated and neglected thinkers, from the physicist Emmy Noether to the computing pioneer Alan Turing and the discoverer of fractals, Benoit Mandelbrot.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
A good overview of scientific theory
- By MJ Walters on 09-11-18
By: Jim Holt
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
Number Theory: A Very Short Introduction
- Very Short Introductions
- By: Robin Wilson
- Narrated by: Al Kessel
- Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall2.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story2.5 out of 5 stars 2
Number theory is the branch of mathematics that is primarily concerned with the counting numbers. Of particular importance are the prime numbers, the "building blocks" of our number system. The subject is an old one, dating back over two millennia to the ancient Greeks, and for many years has been studied for its intrinsic beauty and elegance, not least because several of its challenges are so easy to state that everyone can understand them, and yet no one has ever been able to resolve them. But number theory has also recently become of great practical importance.
By: Robin Wilson
-
Geometry
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Maciej Dunajski
- Narrated by: Liam Gerrard
- Length: 4 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars 1
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 1
-
Story3 out of 5 stars 1
The study of geometry is at least 2500 years old, and it is within this field that the concept of mathematical proof first arose. To this day geometry remains a very active area of research in mathematics. This Very Short Introduction covers the areas of mathematics falling under geometry, starting with topics such as Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometries, and ranging to curved spaces, projective geometry in Renaissance art, and geometry of space-time inside a black hole. Throughout, Maciej Dunajski outlines the role geometry plays in the broader context of science and art.
By: Maciej Dunajski
-
Mathematics
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Timothy Gowers
- Narrated by: Craig Jessen
- Length: 5 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 9
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7
The aim of this book is to explain, carefully but not technically, the differences between advanced, research-level mathematics and the sort of mathematics we learn at school. The most fundamental differences are philosophical, and listeners of this book will emerge with a clearer understanding of paradoxical-sounding concepts such as infinity, curved space, and imaginary numbers. The first few chapters are about general aspects of mathematical thought.
By: Timothy Gowers
-
Philosophy of Science (2nd Edition)
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Samir Okasha
- Narrated by: Liam Gerrard
- Length: 4 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 12
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 11
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 11
How much faith should we place in what scientists tell us? Is it possible for scientific knowledge to be fully "objective"? What, really, can be defined as science? In the second edition of this very short introduction, Samir Okasha explores the main themes and theories of contemporary philosophy of science and investigates fascinating, challenging questions such as these.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Comprehensive yet short overview
- By Kevin on 08-16-23
By: Samir Okasha
-
Fractals
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Kenneth Falconer
- Narrated by: Jason Huggins
- Length: 3 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 2
From the contours of coastlines to the outlines of clouds, and the branching of trees, fractal shapes can be found everywhere in nature. In this Very Short Introduction, Kenneth Falconer explains the basic concepts of fractal geometry, which produced a revolution in our mathematical understanding of patterns in the 20th century, and explores the wide range of applications in science, and in aspects of economics.
By: Kenneth Falconer
-
Intelligence, 2nd Edition
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Ian J. Deary
- Narrated by: Mike Cooper
- Length: 4 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Story2.5 out of 5 stars 3
Some people are cleverer than others. This everyday observation is the subject of an academic field that is often portrayed as confused and controversial, when in fact, the field of intelligence holds some of psychology's best-replicated findings. This Very Short Introduction audiobook describes what psychologists have discovered about how and why people differ in their thinking powers. Drawing on largescale data, Ian Deary considers how many types of intelligence there are and how intelligence changes with age.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
useless on audible
- By Mark on Amzon on 07-20-22
By: Ian J. Deary
-
Number Theory: A Very Short Introduction
- Very Short Introductions
- By: Robin Wilson
- Narrated by: Al Kessel
- Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall2.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance3 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story2.5 out of 5 stars 2
Number theory is the branch of mathematics that is primarily concerned with the counting numbers. Of particular importance are the prime numbers, the "building blocks" of our number system. The subject is an old one, dating back over two millennia to the ancient Greeks, and for many years has been studied for its intrinsic beauty and elegance, not least because several of its challenges are so easy to state that everyone can understand them, and yet no one has ever been able to resolve them. But number theory has also recently become of great practical importance.
By: Robin Wilson
-
Geometry
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Maciej Dunajski
- Narrated by: Liam Gerrard
- Length: 4 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall1 out of 5 stars 1
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars 1
-
Story3 out of 5 stars 1
The study of geometry is at least 2500 years old, and it is within this field that the concept of mathematical proof first arose. To this day geometry remains a very active area of research in mathematics. This Very Short Introduction covers the areas of mathematics falling under geometry, starting with topics such as Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometries, and ranging to curved spaces, projective geometry in Renaissance art, and geometry of space-time inside a black hole. Throughout, Maciej Dunajski outlines the role geometry plays in the broader context of science and art.
By: Maciej Dunajski
-
Mathematics
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Timothy Gowers
- Narrated by: Craig Jessen
- Length: 5 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 9
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 7
-
Story4.5 out of 5 stars 7
The aim of this book is to explain, carefully but not technically, the differences between advanced, research-level mathematics and the sort of mathematics we learn at school. The most fundamental differences are philosophical, and listeners of this book will emerge with a clearer understanding of paradoxical-sounding concepts such as infinity, curved space, and imaginary numbers. The first few chapters are about general aspects of mathematical thought.
By: Timothy Gowers
-
Philosophy of Science (2nd Edition)
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Samir Okasha
- Narrated by: Liam Gerrard
- Length: 4 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars 12
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 11
-
Story5 out of 5 stars 11
How much faith should we place in what scientists tell us? Is it possible for scientific knowledge to be fully "objective"? What, really, can be defined as science? In the second edition of this very short introduction, Samir Okasha explores the main themes and theories of contemporary philosophy of science and investigates fascinating, challenging questions such as these.
-
5 out of 5 stars
-
Comprehensive yet short overview
- By Kevin on 08-16-23
By: Samir Okasha
-
Fractals
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Kenneth Falconer
- Narrated by: Jason Huggins
- Length: 3 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall4.5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars 2
-
Story4 out of 5 stars 2
From the contours of coastlines to the outlines of clouds, and the branching of trees, fractal shapes can be found everywhere in nature. In this Very Short Introduction, Kenneth Falconer explains the basic concepts of fractal geometry, which produced a revolution in our mathematical understanding of patterns in the 20th century, and explores the wide range of applications in science, and in aspects of economics.
By: Kenneth Falconer
-
Intelligence, 2nd Edition
- A Very Short Introduction
- By: Ian J. Deary
- Narrated by: Mike Cooper
- Length: 4 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall3 out of 5 stars 3
-
Performance3.5 out of 5 stars 3
-
Story2.5 out of 5 stars 3
Some people are cleverer than others. This everyday observation is the subject of an academic field that is often portrayed as confused and controversial, when in fact, the field of intelligence holds some of psychology's best-replicated findings. This Very Short Introduction audiobook describes what psychologists have discovered about how and why people differ in their thinking powers. Drawing on largescale data, Ian Deary considers how many types of intelligence there are and how intelligence changes with age.
-
1 out of 5 stars
-
useless on audible
- By Mark on Amzon on 07-20-22
By: Ian J. Deary