Critics Corner

Reviews of books, websites, poster sets, movies, and other resources for learning and teaching the history of mathematics.

Review of Elements of Mathematics: From Euclid to Gödel

Elements of Mathematics: From Euclid to Gödel, by John Stillwell. 440 pp.

Review of Mathematics in Ancient Egypt: A Contextual History

Mathematics in Ancient Egypt: A Contextual History, Annette Imhausen, 2016. 248 pp.

Review of Enlightening Symbols: A Short History of Mathematical Notation and Its Hidden Powers

Review of the book Enlightening Symbols: A Short History of Mathematical Notation and Its Hidden Powers, by Joseph Mazur

Review of Infinitesimal: How a Dangerous Mathematical Theory Shaped the Modern World

Seventeenth century proponents of the elusive infinitesimal clashed with Clavius and the Catholic Church.

Review of Mathematical Expeditions: Exploring Word Problems across the Ages

A collection of problems that should be of interest to teachers at all levels. Frank Swetz shares this observation at the close of his book, Mathematical Expeditions: Exploring Word Problems across the Ages.

Review of A Remarkable Collection of Babylonian Mathematical Texts

Our reviewer finds this collection of translations of Babylonian mathematical tablets to be both fascinating and accessible.

Review of In Pursuit of the Traveling Salesman

William Cook recounts the history of and computational progress on the traveling salesman problem, emphasizing connections within mathematics and with other disciplines.

The History of Mathematics: A Brief Course

A new edition of a brief history text, arranged topically rather than chronologically.

King of Infinite Space: Donald Coxeter, the Man Who Saved Geometry

A biography of the geometer Donald Coxeter.

Mathematics Elsewhere

A compilation of ethnomathematical ideas from around the world.