Fluke

The Maths and Myths of Coincidences

Joseph Mazur

$29.99

Paperback

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English

One World
27 July 2016

Mathematics & Sciences

Imagine this: you are browsing used books in a bookstore hundreds of miles from home when you come across a copy of Moby Dick, which you remember reading as a child. You open it and find your own name on the inside cover.

What are the chances? This is the question we ask ourselves upon encountering seemingly impossible coincidences, like the woman who won the lottery four times. But from clairvoyants to financial markets, and from unique scientific discoveries to DNA evidence, if there is any likelihood that something could happen, no matter how small, it is bound to happen to someone at some time.

Coupling lively anecdotes with the principles of probability, Joseph Mazur balances the fun of a great coincidence with the logical thinking of a mathematician. With a lightness of touch and a witty turn of phrase, Mazur sweeps aside pseudoscience and conspiracy theories, proving that there are rational explanations for even the most extraordinary events.

By: Joseph Mazur
Imprint: One World
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 135mm, Spine: 20mm
ISBN: 9781780748993
ISBN 10: 178074899X
Pages: 288
Publication Date: 27 July 2016
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Joseph Mazur is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Marlboro College in Vermont. He is the author of four popular mathematics books, including Euclid in the Rainforest: Discovering Universal Truth in Logic and Math which was number four on The Guardian's Top 10 Popular Mathematics Books of All Time.

Reviews for Fluke: The Maths and Myths of Coincidences

'A thoroughly readable account of the meaning of truth in mathematics, presented through a series of quirky adventures.' The Guardian on Euclid in the Rainforest 'Beautifully written and packed with insights... Mazur is a talented teacher who knows his subject inside out... This original and charming book is accessible to anyone, and deserves major success.' -- Ian Stewart, Professor of Mathematics, University of Warwick on Euclid in the Rainforest