Mathematica A secret world of intuition and curiosity

Mathematics is among the oldest of the sciences and is universally taught at all levels of education. Why, then, do many people take pride in saying, "I can't do mathematics; I've never understood it"? Mathematics and mathematicians are viewed as something arcane and beyond mere mortals. This books is intended to dispel these misperceptions. It is not a "how to do" mathematics book or a history of mathematics, which are already in the collections of most academic libraries, but a very readable book on how and why people do mathematics. No mathematical background is needed, only an interest in a field that is pervasive but almost universally misunderstood. The author says, "Mathematics shapes our world. It is an instrument of power and domination. But for those who live it, math is above all an inner experience, a sensual and spiritual quest." The main theme of the book is that anyone can have this experience. This is an English translation of the original French. (N.B. There is a computer algebra program also called Mathematica, which is totally unrelated and should not be confused with this volume.) Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readership levels. --Donald Z. Spicer, formerly, University System of Maryland