Index of Convergence Reviews

Convergence Reviews, 2004–2016

ABOUT Website on History of Mathematics. Reviewed by Lawrence Shirley in 2006.
A section of a much larger website, dealing with some random topics in the history of mathematics.

Alexander, Amir. Infinitesimal: How a Dangerous Mathematical Theory Shaped the Modern World. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2014.
How 17th-century European proponents of indivisibles and infinitesimals clashed with Thomas Hobbes, Christopher Clavius, and the Catholic Church.

Amenábar, Alejandro, dir. Agora. Written by Amenábar and Mateo Gil. Reviewed by Shirley Gray in 2010.
Our reviewer reports that the movie, about the mathematician Hypatia of Alexandria (ca 400 AD), is spectacular and intriguing but that Hypatia could and should have been portrayed as the heroine she truly was.

Anderson, Marlow, Victor Katz, and Robin Wilson, eds. Sherlock Holmes in Babylon. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2004.
A collection of articles on the history of mathematics that appeared in journals of the Mathematical Association of America over the past 90 years.

The Archimedes Website. Reviewed by Marcus Barnes in 2006.
This website devoted to miscellanea about Archimedes contains much interesting material about his life and times.

Ascher, Marcia. Mathematics Elsewhere. Reviewed by Lawrence Shirley in 2004.
A compilation of ethnomathematical ideas from around the world.

Asimov, Isaac. Colorful Characters of Mathematics. Reviewed by Art Johnson in 2004.
Whimsical posters of fifteen mathematicians with brief biographies.

Atalay, Bűlent. Math and the Mona Lisa. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2004.
The author makes the case for Leonardo da Vinci as the first modern scientist, as he discusses Leonardo's mathematics and science.

Ayoub, Raymond G., ed. Musings of the Masters. Reviewed by Jeff Suzuki in 2005.
Essays on various aspects of mathematical thought by prominent mathematicians of the past century.

Barbin, Evelyne, ed. De grands dé fis mathématiques d'Euclide à Condorcet. Reviewed by Marc Moyon in 2010.
Nine examples of using mathematics history in the mathematics classroom -- for those who read French!

Baumgart, J.K., D.E. Deal, B.R. Vogeli, and A.E. Hallerberg, eds. Historical Topics for the Mathematics Classroom. Reviewed by Tim Keenan in 2004.
This 1989 revision of the 1969 NCTM yearbook still provides wonderful suggestions for using the history of mathematics in the classroom.

Benjamin Banneker Poster. Reviewed by Karen Michalowicz in 2004.
Poster of Banneker, with a brief description of his life and work.

Bertman, Stephen. The Genesis of Science: The Story of Greek Imagination. Reviewed by Angelina Kuleshova in 2011.
Review of Bertram's text on the history of Greek science.

Bidwell, James K., and Robert G. Clason. Readings in the History of Mathematics Education. Reviewed by Lynn Godshall in 2004.
This collection of readings gives details on the history of mathematics education in the U.S. from 1828 to 1959.

Blatner, David. The Joy of Pi. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2006.
A highly recommended new book on the history and applications of pi.

Blatner, David. The Joy of Pi (website). Reviewed by Jon Choate in 2006.
This website is connected to the book, The Joy of Pi. It has numerous interesting facts about pi, with links to additional sites.

Bogolyubov, N.N., G.K. Mikhailov, and A.P. Yushkevich, eds. Euler and Modern Science. The MAA Tercentenary Euler Celebration, vol. 4. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2007.
Another volume of the MAA tercentenary series on Euler presents numerous papers on various aspects of Euler's life and work.

Boyer, Charles, and Uta Merzbach. History of Mathematics. Reviewed by Kathleen Acker in 2007.
Boyer's classic text, as revised by Uta Merzbach, is still worth having.

Bradley, Michael J. Pioneers in Mathematics. Reviewed by Linda Y. Shuey in 2007.
A five volume set of biographies of mathematicians from ancient times to the twentieth century, aimed at secondary students.

Bradley, Robert, Lawrence D’Antonio, and C. Edward Sandifer, eds. Euler at 300: An Appreciation. The MAA Tercentenary Euler Celebration, vol. 5. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2007.
The final volume of the MAA tercentenary series on Euler presents numerous papers on various aspects of Euler's life and work.

Bressoud, David. A Radical Approach to Real Analysis. Reviewed by James Callahan in 2007.
A historically minded textbook designed to teach real analysis by considering some of the problems faced by 19th century mathematicians.

Burdick, Bruce Stanley. Mathematical Works Printed in the Americas, 1554–1700. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2009.
A bibliographical reference to mathematics books printed in the New World before 1700.

Calinger, Ronald, ed. Classics of Mathematics. Reviewed by Gary Stoudt in 2005.
A sourcebook of original materials in the history of mathematics from ancient times to the early twentieth century.

Calinger, Ronald. A Contextual History of Mathematics. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2006.
An overly ambitious textbook on the history of mathematics.

Case, Bettye Anne and Anne M. Leggett, eds. Complexities: Women in Mathematics. Reviewed by Erica Voolich in 2005.
A collection of articles about historical and contemporary women in mathematics.

Cohen, Daniel J. Equations from God: Pure Mathematics and Victorian Faith. Reviewed by Barnabas Hughes in 2007.
A study of Victorian idealism and its relation to religion, as exemplified in the work of three 19th century British mathematicians.

Consortium's Historical Notes. Reviewed by Jim Kiernan in 2004.
Collection of historical articles that appeared in Consortium, the newsletter of COMAP.

Cook, Mariana. Mathematicians: An Outer View of the Inner World. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2009.
Portraits of 92 living mathematicians, with autobiographical comments.

Cook, William J. In Pursuit of the Traveling Salesman. Reviewed by Christopher Thompson in 2012.
Author William Cook recounts the history of and computational progress on the traveling salesman problem, emphasizing connections within mathematics and with other disciplines.

Cooke, Roger. The History of Mathematics: A Brief Course. Reviewed by Gary Stoudt in 2006.
A new edition of a brief history text, arranged topically rather than chronologically.

Cooney, Mirian P. Celebrating Women in Mathematics and Science. Reviewed by Erica Voolich in 2004.
This unique and beautiful book features the biographies of twenty-two notable female mathematicians and scientists, showing how their determination, creativity, and intellectual passion helped them excel in their fields.

Crilly, Tony. Arthur Cayley: Mathematician Laureate of the Victorian Age. Reviewed by Kathleen M. Clark in 2007.
A biography of Arthur Cayley, the outstanding mathematician of Victorian Britain

Cuomo, Serafina. Ancient Mathematics. Reviewed by Barnabas Hughes in 2006.
A new history of Greek mathematics, taking into account the latest research.

Cupillari, Antonella. A Biography of Maria Gaetana Agnesi. Reviewed by Edith Prentice Mendez in 2008.
A biography of the 18th century author of an early calculus text, with some translations from the text.

Deakin, Michael A. B. Hypatia of Alexandria: Mathematician and Martyr. Reviewed by Eugene Boman in 2007.
A biography of Hypatia in her times that carefully distinguishes between the known facts of her life and the many speculations about her.

Derbyshire, John. Unknown Quantity; A Real and Imaginary History of Algebra. Reviewed by Don Crossfield in 2007.
A history of algebra from its early beginnings to the twentieth century.

Devlin, Keith. The Man of Numbers: Fibonacci's Arithmetic Revolution. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2012.
Author Keith Devlin brings to life the impact of the Pisan merchant and his Arabic numbers on medieval Europe.

Diacu, Florin. The Lost Millennium: History's Timeline under Siege. Reviewed by Branden Anglin in 2012.
This book suggests that the accepted historical chronology is fundamentally flawed.

Dunham, William. The Calculus Gallery. Reviewed by Gary Stoudt in 2005.
A gallery of episodes from the history of calculus.

Dunham, William. Euler: The Master of Us All. Reviewed by Clifford Wagner in 2004.
A small selection of Euler's works, explained by a master expositor.

Dunham, William, ed.The Genius of Euler: Reflections on his Life and Work. The MAA Tercentenary Euler Celebration, vol. 2. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2007.
An excellent volume on Euler in honor of his three-hundredth birthday.

Dunnington, G. Waldo. Gauss: Titan of Science. Reviewed by Jon Choate in 2005.
Reprint of a classic biography of Gauss, with a new foreword by Jeremy Gray.

Edwards, A. W. F. Cogwheels of the Mind: The Story of Venn Diagrams. Reviewed by Jim Kiernan in 2004.
An introduction to the work of Venn as well as the work of the author in extending some of Venn's results.

Edwards, A. W. F. Pascal's Arithmetical Triangle. Reviewed by Richard M. Davitt in 2004.
A history of the development of Pascal's triangle in its various manifestations.

Eves, Howard. Great Moments in Mathematics Before 1650. Reviewed by Jon Choate in 2004.
A collection of short lectures by Howard Eves giving details on 20 important happenings in the history of mathematics before 1650.

Eves, Howard. An Introduction to the History of Mathematics. Reviewed by Gary Stoudt in 2007.
Howard Eves' sixth edition is still worth considering for a textbook.

Ferguson, Kitty. The Music of Pythagoras. Reviewed by Gail Kaplan in 2010.
Subtitled How an Ancient Brotherhood Cracked the Code of the Universe and Lit the Path from Antiquity to Outer Space, this is a book of entertaining stories more so than scholarly research.

Fife, Earl, and Larry Fusch, eds. Mathematics Archives: History of Mathematics. Reviewed by Laura Smith in 2005 and by Don Crossfield in 2006.
A wide-ranging site with links to many sources in the history of mathematics.

Flannery, David. The Square Root of 2: A Dialogue Concerning a Number and a Sequence. Reviewed by Barnabas Hughes in 2006.
A wonderful book about the square root of 2, beginning with the search for the side of a square double a given square.

Folkerts, Menso. The Development of Mathematics in Medieval Europe. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2007.
A collection of articles on mathematics in Europe from the twelfth to the fifteenth century.

Friberg, Jöran. Amazing Traces of a Babylonian Origin in Greek Mathematics. Reviewed by Barnabas Hughes in 2007.
Aspects of classical Greek mathematics are compared with areas of Babylonian mathematics.

Friberg, Jöran. A Remarkable Collection of Babylonian Mathematical Texts. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2012.
Our reviewer finds this collection of translations of Babylonian mathematical texts to be both "remarkable" and accessible.

Friberg, Jöran. Unexpected Links between Egyptian and Babylonian Mathematics. Reviewed by Lawrence Shirley in 2007.
This book demonstrates the relationship between the mathematics in some recently discovered Babylonian tablets and some standard problems from Egyptian mathematics.

Gazalé, Midhat. Number from Ahmes to Cantor. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2004.
A lively history of number systems and number theory from earliest times up to the notion of "infinity".

Gerdes, Paulus. Awakening of Geometrical Thought in Early Culture. Reviewed by Lawrence Shirley in 2006.
How does geometry begin? This work explores the origins of geometry in the work of artisans.

Grattan-Guinness, I., ed. Companion Encyclopedia of the History & Philosophy of the Mathematical Sciences. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2005.
The paperback reprint of this large collection of articles by experts on all aspects of the history and philosophy of mathematics.

Grattan-Guinness, Ivor. Routes of Learning: Highways, Pathways, and Byways in the History of Mathematics. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2010.
In this collection of essays on modern trends and issues in the history of mathematics, consideration of mathematics history in the classroom is often more theoretical than practical.

Great Ideas of Mathematics Posters. Reviewed by Sylvia Lazarnick in 2004.
A set of four posters dealing with the Pythagorean Theorem, infinity, prime numbers, and the history of pi.

Greenberg, Marvin Jay. Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Geometries: Development and History. Reviewed by Eugene Boman in 2009.
This textbook seamlessly combines the history of non-Euclidean geometry with the mathematical ideas.

Hart, Roger. The Chinese Roots of Linear Algebra. Reviewed by Frank Swetz in 2011.
An excellent, careful, and penetrating study of matrix methods for solving systems of linear equations in first century China.

Hawking, Stephen, ed. God Created the Integers: Mathematical Breakthroughs that Changed History. Reviewed by Eugene Boman in 2007.
Original source material from seventeen mathematicians, with commentary by Stephen Hawking.

Hellman, Hal. Great Feuds in Mathematics. Reviewed by Jim Kiernan in 2007.
A lively description of ten of the greatest feuds in mathematics.

Henderson, Harry. Mathematics: Powerful Patterns in Nature and Society. Reviewed by Linda Y. Shuey in 2007.
The work of ten scientists who thought deeply about patterns.

Heyde, C.C. and E. Seneta, eds. Statisticians of the Centuries. Reviewed by Winston Richards in 2004.
Thumbnail sketches of statisticians throughout history.

Hidetoshi, Fukagawa, and Tony Rothman. Sacred Mathematics: Japanese Temple Geometry. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2008.
This book describes some of the so-called temple geometry problems that Japanese mathematicians posed and solved beginning in the seventeenth century.

Historic Women of Mathematics Poster. Reviewed by Karen Michalowicz in 2004.
Poster picturing five famous women, from Hypatia to Grace Hopper.

Hodgkin, Luke. A History of Mathematics: From Mesopotamia to Modernity. Reviewed by T. M. Mills in 2005.
A new history of mathematics text that asks lots of questions about the history and the mathematics.

Høyrup, Jens. L’algèbre au temps de Babylone: Quand les mathématiques s’écrivaient sur del’argile. Reviewed by Marc Moyon in 2011.
Revised and expanded French translation of the author's original 1998 book for Danish high school teachers. The title in English is Algebra in the Time of Babylon: When Mathematics Were Written on Clay.

Imhausen, Annette. Mathematics in Ancient Egypt: A Contextual History. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2016.
Our reviewer finds the book to be "well written" and "well researched," and is grateful to the author for summarizing scholarship to date.

Jahnke, Hans Niels, ed. A History of Analysis. Reviewed by Jeff Suzuki in 2004.
A superb collection of articles by experts on various areas of the history of analysis, from the Greeks to modern times.

James, Ioan. Remarkable Mathematicians. Reviewed by Jim Kiernan in 2004.
A collection of biographies of sixty mathematicians from the eighteenth century to the twentieth.

Johnson, Art. Famous Problems and Their Mathematicians. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2004.
This resource consists of a series of 61 worksheets, each focused on a particular problem and related to a particular historical mathematical personality.

Joyce, David. History of Mathematics. Reviewed by Jim Kiernan in 2005.
This website contains a complete version of Euclid's Elements, with all the proofs.

Kaplan, Robert. The Nothing That Is. Reviewed by Austin Lobo in 2004.
A history of the concept of zero from as far back as the Babylonian period, with philosophical excursions into the meaning of "nothing".

Kaplan, Robert, and Ellen Kaplan. The Art of the Infinite. Reviewed by Albert Briggs in 2004.
This book is a collection of mathematical ideas organized around the themes of infinity and the illumination of the nature of mathematical thought.

Katz, Victor J. A History of Mathematics: Brief Version. Reviewed by Robert McGee in 2005.
A brief version of the author's well-known history of mathematics text.

Katz, Victor J., ed. The Mathematics of Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India and Islam. Reviewed by Barnabas Hughes in 2007.
A new collection of original source materials in the mathematics of five civilizations.

Katz, Victor, and Karen Dee Michalowicz, eds. Historical Modules for the Teaching and Learning of Mathematics. Reviewed by Lynn Godshall, David Lutz, and Neil Via in 2005.
A CD with eleven modules, each containing numerous activities designed to help secondary teachers use the history of mathematics to teach mathematics.

Kidwell, Peggy Aldrich, Amy Ackerberg-Hastings, and David Lindsay Roberts. Tools of American Mathematics Teaching, 1800–2000. Reviewed by Don Crossfield in 2008.
A survey of the use of technology in American mathematics teaching over the past 200 years.

Kleiner, Israel. A History of Abstract Algebra. Reviewed by Ueli Daepp in 2008.
A history of the various algebraic structures that came together to give us "abstract algebra" by early in the twentieth century.

Laubenbacher, Reinhard, and David Pengelley. Mathematical Expeditions: Chronicles by the Explorers. Reviewed by Jim Kiernan in 2008.
A collection of original texts to help students learn some important areas of mathematics.

Lewinter, Marty, and William Widulski. The Saga of Mathematics. Reviewed by Jim Kiernan in 2004.
A brief history of mathematics aimed at college students with little technical knowledge of mathematics.

Linklater, Andro. Measuring America. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2007.
The beginnings of land measurement in the early United States and how this affected American democracy.

Livio, Mario. The Equation that Couldn't Be Solved. Reviewed by Doris Schattschneider in 2006.
A history of attempts to solve cubic and higher degree polynomial equations, including the notions of group theory and their relationship to the idea of symmetry.

Manguel, Alberto, Antonio Duran, and George Ifrah. The Life of Numbers. Illustrated by Sean Macksouli, Natalia Pintado, and Javier Pagola. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2007.
A creative expression combining text, design and illustrations, originally designed for the International Congress of Mathematicians in Madrid.

Mankiewicz, Richard. The Story of Mathematics. Reviewed by Anne Loesch in 2004.
A wonderful survey of the history of mathematics, emphasizing its relationship with the ambient culture.

Maor, Eli. The Pythagorean Theorem: A 4,000 Year History. Reviewed by Jim Kiernan in 2007.
A survey of this theorem's 4000-year history, with applications to many fields.

Maor, Eli. Trigonometric Delights. Reviewed by Dorothee Jane Blum in 2005.
A delightful survey of the history of trigonometry, along with discussions of its uses, both ancient and modern.

Martinez, Alberto A. Negative Math: How Mathematical Rules Can Be Positively Bent. Reviewed by Karen Michalowicz in 2006.
The story of the negative numbers.

The Math Forum. Reviewed by Gail Kaplan in 2006.
A description of this well-regarded website.

Math Pages. Reviewed by Laura Smith in 2006.
A general mathematics website with much information on the history of mathematics.

Mazur, Joseph. Enlightening Symbols: A Short History of Mathematical Notation and Its Hidden Powers. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2015.
The reviewer finds the book to be "lively" and "interesting," but wishes the author would "begin at the beginning."

Mazzotti, Massimo. The World of Maria Gaetana Agnesi, Mathematician of God. Reviewed by Kathleen Ambruso Acker in 2008.
A biography stressing Agnesi's deep commitment to help those in need.

Mermin, N. David. It's About Time. Reviewed by James Callahan in 2005.
A great book from which to learn and teach the subject of relativity.

Milestones of Mathematics Posters. Reviewed by Lynn Godshall in 2004.
Two posters illustrating the major milestones in the history of mathematics, from the first ideas of "number" to the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem.

Miller, Jeff. History of Mathematical Symbolism and Terminology Website. Reviewed by Anthony Piccolino in 2005.
Website containing much information on mathematical symbolism and terminology, as well as portraits of mathematicians from postage stamps.

Multicultural Classroom Posters Sets 1 & 2. Reviewed by Lynn Godshall in 2004.
Posters illustrating mathematics concepts in such places as China, Japan, India, and the Americas.

Multicultural Classroom Posters Sets 3 & 4. Reviewed by Vincent Corrado in 2004.
These posters illustrate aspects of the history of mathematics in countries from Babylonia to Ireland.

Museum of the History of Science, Oxford. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2008.
There is much to see in this museum related to the history of mathematics.

Nahin, Paul J. When Least is Best: How Mathematicians Discovered Many Clever Ways to Make Things as Small (or as Large) as Possible. Reviewed by Clifford Wagner in 2005.
A survey of techniques of minimizing and maximizing over the centuries.

O’Connor, J.J., and E. F. Robertson. MacTutor History of Mathematics Archive. Reviewed by Barnabas Hughes in 2004.
This website offers a collection of biographies of mathematicians and a variety of resources on the development of various branches of mathematics. It is an extremely rich and extensive site.

Odifreddi, Piergiorgio. The Mathematical Century. Reviewed by Gary Stoudt in 2004.
The development of 30 important mathematics subjects during the twentieth century made understandable to undergraduate mathematics majors.

O’Shea, Donal. The Poincare Conjecture: In Search of the Shape of the Universe. Reviewed by Eugene Boman in 2007.
The history of the Poincare conjecture up to its recent proof by Grigori Perelman.

Parshall, Karen Hunger. James Joseph Sylvester: Jewish Mathematician in a Victorian World. Reviewed by Gail Kaplan in 2007.
The first detailed biography of James Joseph Sylvester.

Pasles, Paul C. Benjamin Franklin's Numbers: An Unsung Mathematical Odyssey. Reviewed by Eugene Boman in 2008.
A thorough study of Benjamin Franklin's mathematical accomplishments, in particular his work on magic squares.

Pesic, Peter. Abel's Proof. Reviewed by by Lynn Godshall in 2004.
A discussion of the meaning of mathematical unsolvability in the context of the history of Abel's proof of the unsolvability of the quintic equation in terms of radicals.

Pickover, Clifford A. The Math Book: From Pythagoras to the 57th Dimension, 250 Milestones in the History of Mathematics. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2010.
In this fascinating and accessible book, the author devotes one page of lively and informative text and one striking, full-page illustration to each milestone.

Plofker, Kim. Mathematics in India. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2009.
A survey of over two thousand years of the history of mathematics on the Indian subcontinent.

Posamentier, Alfred S., and Ingmar Lehman. Pi: A Biography of the World's Most Mysterious Number. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2005.
A discussion not only of the mathematics of pi, but of its applications through the centuries.

Quaknin, Marc-Alain. The Mystery of Numbers. Reviewed by Art Johnson in 2005.
A journey through numbers from their earliest beginning in India to the proof of Fermat's Last Theorem by Wiles.

Reimer, Wilbert, and Luetta Reimer. Historical Connections in Mathematics. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2004.
Brief biographies of mathematicians with mathematical activities based on their work.

Richeson, David S. Euler's Gem: The Polyhedron Formula and the Birth of Topology. Reviewed by Clifford Wagner in 2009.
A sketch of the history of topology, beginning with the polyhedron formula and continuing up to the present.

Roberts, Siobhan. King of Infinite Space: Donald Coxeter, the Man Who Saved Geometry. Reviewed by Jonathan Choate in 2007.
A biography of the geometer Donald Coxeter.

Robson, Eleanor. Mathematics in Ancient Iraq: A Social History. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2008.
A new history of mathematics in ancient Mesopotamia, concentrating on its social aspects.

Roller, Duane W. Eratosthenes' Geography. Reviewed by Frederick Sakon in 2011.
Subtitled Fragments collected and translated, with commentary and additional material, this book provides the first English translation of Eratosthenes' Geography and includes "On the Measurement of the Earth."

Rossi, Corinna. Architecture and Mathematics in Ancient Egypt. Reviewed by Dorothee Jane Blum in 2005.
A study of the nature of architecture in ancient Egypt and its relationship to Egyptian mathematics.

Rudman, Peter S. The Babylonian Theorem: The Mathematical Journey to Pythagoras and Euclid. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2010.
The author constructs a possible and plausible path from the mathematics of the ancient Babylonians of 2000-1600 BCE to that of Pythagoras, Euclid, and the ancient Greeks of 600-300 BCE.

Rudman, Peter S. How Mathematics Happened: The First 50,000 Years. Reviewed by Gail Kaplan in 2007.
A popular history of ancient mathematics, dealing with the mathematics of ancient Egypt and Babylonia.

Ruelle, David. The Mathematician's Brain. Reviewed by Kathleen Acker in 2007.
A book delving into the working of the mathematical mind.

Sandifer, C. Edward. The Early Mathematics of Leonhard Euler. The MAA Tercentenary Euler Celebration, vol. 1. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2007.
An excellent volume on Euler in honor of his three-hundredth birthday.

Sandifer, C. Edward. How Euler Did It. The MAA Tercentenary Euler Celebration, vol. 3. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2007.
A collection of short pieces each detailing how Euler solved a particular mathematics problem.

Sangalli, Arturo. Pythagoras' Revenge: A Mathematical Mystery. Reviewed by James F. Kiernan in 2009.
A fictionalized account of Pythagoras and Pythagorean beliefs.

Shapiro, Stewart. Thinking about Mathematics: The Philosophy of Mathematics. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2006.
An excellent book surveying the history of the philosophy of mathematics from the time of Plato to the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Shell-Gellasch, Amy, ed. Hands on History, A Resource for Teaching Math. Reviewed by Don Crossfield in 2008.
A collection of articles about mathematical models and objects and how they can be used in teaching.

Shell-Gellasch, Amy, and Dick Jardine, eds. From Calculus to Computers: Using the Last 200 Years of Mathematics History in the Classroom. Reviewed by Jim Kiernan in 2006.
A collection of articles on using the history of mathematics of the past 200 years in the undergraduate classroom.

Shenitzer, Abe, and John Stillwell, eds. Mathematical Evolutions. Reviewed by Lang Moore in 2004.
A collection of articles from the American Mathematical Monthly by experts on the evolution of various fields of mathematics.

Shesso, Renna. Math for Mystics: From the Fibonacci Sequence to Luna's Labyrinth to the Golden Section and Other Secrets of Sacred Geometry. Reviewed by Edith Prentice Mendez in 2007.
A book connecting mathematics to mysticism, but not recommended.

Sigler, Laurence. Fibonacci's Liber Abaci: Leonardo Pisano’s Book of Calculation. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2005.
A translation of one of the earliest European mathematical texts to use the Hindu-Arabic number system.

Simmons, George F. Calculus Gems: Brief Lives and Memorable Moments. Reviewed by Kathleen M. Clark in 2007.
A collection of short biographical sketches of people involved in the development of calculus, as well as brief descriptions of important events in that development.

Smith, Sanderson. Agnesi to Zeno. Reviewed by Linda Shuey in 2004.
Short biographies of mathematicians with mathematical activities.

Speaking of Mathematics Posters. Reviewed by Lynn Godshall in 2004.
A collection of 24 mini-posters, each containing a quotation about mathematics.

Stedall, Jacqueline. A Discourse Concerning Algebra. Reviewed by Kathleen Acker in 2005.
A study of the rise of English algebra from the Medieval period to the end of the seventeenth century.

Stedall, Jacqueline. The Greate Invention of Algebra. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2005.
Jacqueline Stedall has uncovered the numerous algebraic ideas of Thomas Harriot from the early 17th century and has organized them into a readable treatise.

Stedall, Jacqueline. Mathematics Emerging: A Sourcebook 1540–1900. Reviewed by Gary Stoudt in 2008 and by Frank J. Swetz in 2012.
Textbook that provides sources in both original form and largely literal translation by Stedall.

Stein, Sherman. Archimedes: What Did He Do Besides Cry Eureka? Reviewed by Tim Keenan in 2004.
Archimedes' work, The Method, explained, along with many other important ideas of the great Greek geometer.

Stillwell, John. Elements of Mathematics: From Euclid to Gödel. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2016.
Our reviewer concludes: "If you want to teach mathematics with its history, this is a way to do it!"

Stillwell, John. Yearning for the Impossible: The Surprising Truths of Mathematics. Reviewed by Lynn Godshall in 2007.
This book explores the history of mathematics from the perspective of the creative tension between common sense and the "impossible" as the author follows the discovery or invention of new concepts that have marked mathematical progress.

Stray, Geoff. The Mayan and Other Ancient Calendars. Reviewed by Lawrence Shirley in 2009.
A detailed study of the cycles of the Mayan calendar, along with some other ancient calendars.

Struik, Dirk J. A Concise History of Mathematics. Reviewed by Barnabas Hughes in 2007.
The classic work by Dirk Struik is still worth reading, especially for its attention to the social context of the development of mathematical ideas.

Suzuki, Jeff. A History of Mathematics. Reviewed by Gary Stoudt in 2007.
A solid history of mathematics text that any instructor of a history course should consider.

Swetz, Frank J. Mathematical Expeditions: Exploring Word Problems across the Ages. Reviewed by Kathleen M. Clark in 2013.
A collection of problems that should be of interest and use to teachers at all levels.

Szpiro, George G. Kepler's Conjecture. Reviewed by Jonathan Choate in 2005.
A survey of the attempts to prove Kepler's conjecture over the past 400 years.

Szpiro, George G. The Secret Life of Numbers. Reviewed by Edith Prentice Mendez in 2007.
Short sketches on how mathematicians work and think.

Taschner. Rudolf. Numbers at Work: A Cultural Perspective. Reviewed by Jonathan Choate in 2007.
Essays on how number has been critical to the work of scientists through the ages.

Tent, M.B.W. The Prince of Mathematics: Carl Friedrich Gauss. Reviewed by Linda Y. Shuey in 2006.
A biography of Gauss designed for high school students.

Tuplin, C.J., and T.E. Rhill, eds. Science and Mathematics in Ancient Greek Culture. Reviewed by Barnabas Hughes in 2005.
Essays on various aspects of Greek science and mathematics, which help give a context for those aspects of Greek culture.

Van Brummelen, Glen. The Mathematics of the Heavens and the Earth: the Early History of Trigonometry. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2009.
A comprehensive history of trigonometry from ancient times to the Renaissance.

Van Brummelen, G., and M. Kinyon, eds. Mathematics and The Historian’s Craft: The Kenneth O. May Lectures. Reviewed by Jon Choate in 2006.
A collection of the Kenneth May lectures in the history of mathematics given at meetings of the Canadian Society for History and Philosophy of Mathematics.

Wallace, David Foster. Everything and More: A Compact History of ∞. Reviewed by Gabriela Sanchis in 2005.
A survey of concepts of infinite sets over the centuries.

Wells, David. Prime Numbers: The Most Mysterious Figures in Math. Reviewed by Gabriela R. Sanchis in 2007.
An introduction to the prime numbers in many of their aspects.

White, Bruce. The Pioneers of Calculus Posters. Reviewed by Art Johnson in 2004.
A collection of sixteen posters of contributors to calculus, with brief biographical sketches.

Wilson, Robin. Four Colors Suffice. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2004.
The history of the four color problem with sketches of the attempted proofs in the nineteenth century and an outline of the computer proof of the twentieth century.

Wilson, Robin. Stamping Through Mathematics. Reviewed by Tim Keenan in 2004.
The author takes us on a historical tour of mathematics through postage stamps of the world that display mathematicians and mathematics.

Yandell, Ben H. The Honors Class: Hilbert’s Problems and Their Solvers. Reviewed by Frank J. Swetz in 2006.
This work discusses the people who solved some of Hilbert's problems from 1900, as well as the mathematics involved in the solutions.