10 Women Who Changed Science and the World | Catherine Whitlock & Rhodri Evans | Mini-Review

*Image and book provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review:

This book is an engaging collection of mini-biographies of 10 women who made significant contributions to science. Not only does it talk about them, it also gives a lot of context for their work and situations. This means we also get a lot of information about the world at the time as well as the science they were doing and how it fits into our understanding of science today. I genuinely appreciate how deeply these mini-biographies went into the science. Most of the stories are pretty well balanced between the history, biography and scientific information. Henrietta Leavitt's section focused mainly on the works of others but a lot of that could be because there was so little information about her available. It's a good collection overall, definitely of interest to those who are interested in the actual science that these women did. 4 hoots!

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The Truth About Archie and Pye | Jonathan Pinnock

*Image and book provided via NetGalley for an honest review.

Summary:

In what seems like an unlikely series of coincidences, Tom has lost his job, his girlfriend, his flat and has become embroiled in a decade old murder mystery involving mathematicians and conspiracy theories. All in less than a week! When he decides to try to unravel the mystery he finds himself meeting old acquaintances, making new ones, learning mathematical concepts and trying to survive a deal with the Belarusian mafia. 

Review:

This book was so much fun to read! I'm not normally one for murder mysteries, they're just not my thing. But with a cast of likeable characters, a swirl of conspiracy theories, a lot of fun and several Gordion knot solutions, this book was a wonderful exception to the "no mysteries" rule.

Tom was immediately the kind of character you can relate to and empathize with. Even just his trying to get a quiet moment on the train and ultimately failing despite the multiple "quiet car" signs was all too familiar. You really get the sense of him as the underdog so it's very easy to cheer for him as he progresses through the story. And yes he does genuinely mess up a couple things (and maybe a few more) but the other characters are quick to call him out on it and he learns his lesson pretty quickly. 

As is the nature of conspiracy theories, they make so little sense from the outside. Pinnock does a wonderful job of making the intertwined theories more and more comprehensible as Tom delves deeper into them. It gets to the point where the even some of the most seemingly random things actually make perfect sense.

And if you're worried there's too much math involved, don't worry. Pinnock does a great job of explaining what math there is and keeping it as simple as possible. Seriously, the figuring out of Burgess' combination was equal parts educational, fun and absurd. I loved that entire scene.

If you're looking for a funny mystery novel, if you're the type of person who thought The DaVinci Code would've been good if it hadn't taken itself so seriously, this is a wonderful book for you to pick up. Pinnock's characters, circumstances and humor are definite winners. 4.5 hoots!

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The Golden Ratio | Gary Meisner | Mini-Review

*Image and book provided via NetGalley for an honest review.

Review:

A lot of this book had me feeling like I really didn't understand math or art. Meisner does a wonderful job at the beginning of explaining what the golden ratio is, what makes it so special, and what its history is. But the application of it to the artwork was less than clear to me. A lot of times it really felt like the software he designed to find golden ratios in artwork was just finding coincidence rather than purposeful use. Some of it, like the use of a canvas sized to match the golden ratio, does apply. Others it felt pretty forced. That being said, I do give Meisner full credit for including a section on the controversy of the golden ratio and how some people argue that it doesn't exist or doesn't have as much influence as others claim, etc. Overall, it was a good beginner's book for those interested in the golden ratio. 3.5 hoots!

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Genius Jokes | Frank Flannery | Mini-Review

*Image and book provided via NetGalley for an honest review.

Review:

Good news! I'm evidence that you don't actually have to be a genius to enjoy these jokes. Some of them were a bit on the dryer side of funny. Others literally made me laugh out loud. The topics cover science, history, politics, and more. My favorite part, I actually learned things! The explanations of the jokes in this book are well written and concise. They are clearly meant to educate without being boring and they succeed. I really enjoyed this book and recommend it for anyone who wants some fun filled, quick learning. 4 hoots!

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Void | James Owen Weatherall

*I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

Summary:

This book is an overview of the definition of "nothing" from a mathematical and physical perspective over, pretty much, the entirety of human thought on the subjects. Most of the focus is on Leibniz, Newton & the invention of calculus as well as Einstein's relativity and the QED that followed. 

Review:

I always enjoy when a mathematics/physics/philosophy author has a strong sense of humor. The number of "side notes" I read regarding how mathematicians treat physicists and visa versa, was delightful and really helped to keep me interested in what I was reading. There was a little bit of skimming, I'm a little embarrassed to say, but for the most part I was quite intrigued. Heck, I even learned several (most likely watered down) aspects of Quantum Electrodynamics (QED). I will say that I recommend getting a physical copy of this book. Almost half of the book is Weatherall's notes and the ebook format that I received wasn't very good for going to the end note numbered and then back to where I was reading. Still, I really liked this one. 3.5 hoots!

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The Great Mathematicians | Raymond Flood & Robin Wilson

Summary:

A quick look at some of histories greatest mathematical contributors. From Western to Eastern philosophy, from ancient to contemporary history, these are the people who made mathematics. 

Review:

This isn't a book for laymen. I generally enjoy reading about mathematics but I had problems getting through this book. I had to force myself to read a lot of it and other parts I had my husband (a natural with mathematics) explain some of it to me.

That being said, I did appreciate how the book doesn't focus on western or European mathematicians. Influences from around the world are given well deserved representation in this book. Not everyone knows that "zero" was created by India.

I don't recommend this book for everyone. You'd have to be really interested in mathematics and the history of mathematics to really like this book. That said, I give this book 2.5 hoots.

Weapons of Math Destruction | Catherine O'Neil

*Image and book provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:

Today's world is run by algorithms. From our credit reports and finances to how well teachers and employees are doing, algorithms guide business in their decisions. They praised as being non-biased since they are programs, not people. Yet, as O'Neil shows us, the fact that they are made by humans and built upon data from prejudiced humans, the algorithms are not so fair as they are made out to be.


Review:

I first found out about this book because I follow O'Neil's blog, Math Babe. So when it came up on NetGalley, I immediately requested a copy. As someone who reads her blog, little of the information presented was surprising, but the depth that she was able to add in this book was very helpful.

The first several sections of the book talk about the author's relationship with algorithms. She worked in the finance industry and was only given so much information about each "black box" algorithm. This way no one employee could have all the secrets to what made the algorithm work. Unfortunately, this lack of transparency ended up hurting a lot of people. And it wasn't just the financial industry, either. Many companies, as well as the government, use algorithms based on data that may be incredibly irrelevant to whether or not someone will be a good employee or should stay in jail longer or shorter times, or should pay higher insurance premiums. Many aspects of humanity can't be quantified, so the algorithms attempt to fill the void by using other data. The problem with that is that there is no feedback on whether or not it works so the algorithm cannot adjust itself.

While the majority of the book is explaining these algorithms and how they hurt people, I was very grateful that O'Neil included a section on proposed solutions. I was worried the author would only complain about the problem throughout the book, but there were ideas for making things better. More importantly, to me, every claim she wrote about why the algorithms are broken or need transparency had a reference to back it up. O'Neil presents the problem, proposes solutions, then enables the reader to follow up on her research.

This is a good book for anyone looking to see how mathematics can help and hinder real life. This is also a good book for anyone interested in learning more about Big Business. Heck, even if you just need an explanation for why you pay so much for car insurance, give this book a read. 4 hoots!

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The Aliens Are Coming! | Ben Miller

*Book provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:

In this book, Ben Miller looks at the search for extra-terrestrial life through a scientific lens. By breaking down the Drake Equation and examining all the requirements of it from a physical, biological, geological, mathematical and even linguistic perspective, Miller gives us a realistic picture of the likelihood of communicating with aliens. At the same time, he uses terrestrial examples to show areas we still need more information on. 

Review:

If you enjoy science, this is actually a good book for you. There is little conspiracy theory and hypothetical talk and a significant amount of science. Admittedly, I struggled through the biology of evolution section (used to give a time template for how long it may take life on other planets to become complex) but the rest of the book was an engaging, intelligent read. Miller's humor also helped to balance out some of the drier parts.

I greatly appreciated that this search for extra-terrestrials reminded the reader that there are plenty of things we can learn from our own world to aid our search. The convergent evolution that leads to platypi. The translation of dolphin language. The ripple effects in our understanding of the world from each discovery we make about it. 

There were so many parts of this book that led me to eagerly do some quick Google searches to get a better understanding. This is something that I think all good science books should do. They should light a fire of curiosity in the reader, a need for more information. I happily give 4 hoots!

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The Imitation Game | Jim Ottaviani

*This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:

This book is a graphic novel interpretation of the life and research of Alan Turing, told from the perspectives of the people who new him best as well as his own correspondences. 

Review:

I really liked this book. The artwork was well done, the book was well researched, and the story was very intriguing. This isn't just a book about math or logic. This is a book about World War II history,  breaking the German Enigma machines, and the gender bias in British Army. This book even has the first computers! That's how intriguing Turing's life really is, it involves so much world history.

Yes, there are long(ish) segments where Turing talks through his ideas on logic, but they are written in a natural language that makes a lot more sense to a layman than a logic book. What's funny to me is that the artwork for these streams of consciousness, it often shows Turing moving on ahead while his acquaintances are left behind, having problems keeping up with him. Considering how few people seemed to understand him, it makes sense in the moment and overall.

 This is not just a book for mathematicians or logicians. This is a good read for people interested in cryptography, World War II, LGBT history, or even just real life drama. The art style is appropriate for the story and the dialogue is easy to read. I happily give The Imitation Game 4.5 Hoots!

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A Survival Guide to the Misinformation Age | David J. Helfand

*Book provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:

"From dissolving our fear of numbers and demystifying graphs, to elucidating the key concepts of probability and the use of precise language and logic, this book supplies an essential set of apps for the pre-frontal cortex while making science both accessible and entertaining." - NetGalley Summary


Review:

This is a book to be taken slowly. I have a relatively strong interest in math and science, but less than average ability, so reading large segments at a time proved quite difficult. My brain wandered significantly while reading.

I appreciate what the author is trying to do. He is using the first several chapters to try to train your brain for the final few where he presents science vs. pseudoscience. It's similar in structure to Portal where the first 13 levels are actually tutorial levels for the final 10% of the game. He's even given several sample problems in the appendix (and their answers) for further mental exercise.

So, if you're looking for a refresher in math, science and/or critical thinking, this is a good exercise. Be prepared to take it slow, though. Helfand says he understands that his audience probably hasn't doesn't these kinds of mental exercises in some time, but I still felt that he was overestimating my abilities. 3 Hoots!

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Dataclysm | Christian Rudder

*Book provided by Blogging for Books.

Summary:

Christian Rudder, one of co-founders of OkCupid, uses data from OkCupid, Google, Twitter, and others to show patterns of behavior. Some of these patterns relate to romantic interests, but there are also chapters on stereotypes, prejudices, privacy concerns and other information related to living in the digital age.

Review:

I initially requested this book because I actually met my husband on OkCupid and was interested in seeing if our relationship had fit the norms gathered from the OkCupid data. When I started reading it, however, I was happy to be shown a lot of data with Rudder's interpretations. Statistics was one of my favorite subjects and a good portion of the book plays to that. If you have trouble with statistics, this book will show you what kind of practical applications the subject can have.

The majority of the book, however, reads like a set of personal opinion essays. I know that's not what they are; Rudder has a lot of data and has done his research. The subjects he covered were certainly interesting and relevant. For some reason, though, the second half of the book (give or take) just kinda fell flat for me. I lost interest quickly and had a hard time getting through it. I almost think I'd have had more fun just reading a book of statistics. Then again, I've always had problems reading about anything that involves contemporary politics, social life, etc. 

I do encourage you to pick up a copy if you're interested in what the raw data from the Internet says about the United States culture. It's just not for me. 

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Reading Science Stories | Joy Hakim

Summary:

With help from a three book series published by Smithsonian Books, author Joy Hakim writes a book about the history of science. She does this in an attempt to show that high school literature classes do not (and should not) include only fictional works.

Review:

This was quite an educational book. A lot of this was review for me, but since this was probably written with high school students in mind, the difficulty level is good. There isn't a lot in the book about the concept of non-fiction being literature, the book itself is more an example of what non-fiction literature looks like.

The stories themselves are well written and well researched. This is not surprising considering that a lot of them come from Smithsonian Books' series The Story of Science.** They are definitely easy to read and understand. Most important, they are made to be interesting. 

So, if you're looking for a science refresher or an easy science read, I do recommend Reading Science Stories. It's written at more of a high school level, but it is highly informative and interesting.  4 hoots!

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*This book was provided for free in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley. 

**I'm not sure how much of Reading Science Stories is from Hakim and how much is The Story of Science.