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Kepler’s Conjecture:

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  • Science: “...describes very vividly and extremely lucidly the fascinating history of this tantalizing problem ... a paradigm of mathematical popularization. ”

  • Nature: “...gives an entertaining and readable account of the history of the problem and the attempts to solve it. ... a mixture of mathematics, history and anecdotes. ... Even people familiar with the subject will find new anecdotes here.”

  • New Scientist: “...an invigorating affirmation of math’s endless allure.”

  • The Mathematical Intelligencer: “...a well-crafted piece of popular science writing ... a wonderful mine of historical detail. Szpiro offers lively vignettes .... displays his investigative talents for digging up unlikely stories and [has] a professional eye for the telling detail”

  • Notices of the American Mathematical Association: “...a wonderful book, chock full of interesting mathematics, biography and drama, I enjoyed and learned a lot from every section, as would, I think, anyone interested in mathematics.”

  • Sydney Morning Herald: “Szpiro has the gift of explaining complex mathematical concepts in a way that makes them comprehensible and even exciting.”

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​Secret Life of Numbers:

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  • Science News: “… 50 brief, entertaining, and often-whimsical stories… Szpiro's collection of puzzles and trivia can give readers a new appreciation for math.”

  • MAA (Mathematical Association of America) Reviews: “We should persuade the New York Times to translate and syndicate George Szpiro’s columns … This is an excellent book to dip into, to give to friends or relatives who wonder what you do, or to recommend to students.”

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Poincaré’s Prize:

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  • Booklist (American Library Association): “Only specialists can fully understand this famous conjecture, but Szpiro translates its essential features into remarkably accessible analogies.”

  • Le Monde (France): “Loin de nous noyer - à quelques pages près - sous le formalisme abstrait des mathématiques, l'auteur nous entraîne dans une histoire policière qui démarre en France au milieu du XIXe siècle …” (Far from drowning us in abstract mathematical formalism – with the exception of a few pages – the author leads us into a detective story that started off in France in the middle of the 19th century …)

  • Library Journal: “… Szpiro specifically writes to a public audience in a story format full of passion, enterprise, and historical context. A fascinating and essential read for anyone interested in the worlds of mathematics and science and the quest for discovery.”

  • Jeremy Bernstein in Physicists on Wall Street and Other Essays on Science and Society:  "…the affectionate way he describes these people. ..."

Pricing the Future

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  • The Economist: “The tale includes a fascinating succession of people who tried doggedly to master probability and markets. It is engagingly told by George Szpiro, a mathematician- turned-journalist, who flits between biographies and formulae.”

  • Washington Independent Review of Books: “…brilliant elucidation of the facts…the book is true to its promise of unraveling the thoughts of the pioneers of mathematical finance.”

  • The Free Library: “this book offers an enthralling historical account …”

  • The American Interest: “This understanding is aided by a better grasp of the history behind it all... Thanks to George Szpiro, we now have that history.”

  • Library Journal: “Szpiro makes his tale of how an idea evolves over time and of the inner workings of academia interesting and accessible for most readers.”

 

Numbers Rule

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  • The New Yorker: 4-page review on July 26, 2010

  • Public Choice: “…probably the most entertaining book one is likely to find on the subject…. Szpiro’s book is ideally suited to be a supplementary reading for graduate classes in social choice theory.”

  • Sacramento Book Review: “Anybody who has ever decried election results will be fascinated in Szpiro’s accessible explanations of the paradoxes and enigmas that occur in all methods of election…”

  • Choice (Current Reviews for Academic Libraries): “…this is an excellent choice for general readers interested in the subject matter.”

  • American Mathematical Society: “a readable, engaging, and intellectually stimulating book”

  • Times Higher Education: “…an engrossing history …I recommend the book as an interesting, selective introduction into the complexities of voting reform.”

  • Choice:  Outstanding Academic Title for 2010

  • Association of American Publishers: Honorable Mention for the 2010 PROSE Award in Mathematics,

A Mathematical Medley

 

From the blurbs:

  • “...a delightful, well-written, eclectic selection of mathematical tidbits .... Excellent gift material.” Keith Devlin, Stanford University.

  • “...many varied, insightful and often surprising mathematical stories.” Marcus du Sautoy, Oxford University.

  • “Even professional mathematicians
    like myself can learn a lot...the style is
    so lucid that I can guarantee that [laypeople] would understand everything.    ” Doron Zeilberger, Rutgers University.

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