http://pro-libertate.net/20090818/86-read-unknown-quantity-real-and-imaginary-hi... ( )

Add a star if you have a strong math background and are really interested; two if you are really really interested. ( )

I'm not really sure who the author was considering as the audience for this book. It's too technical at times for a layperson (and even engineers with PhDs apparently) and not detailed enough for the mathematician. Sometimes it's more like a historical biography of mathematicians and other times more like a math textbook. Additionally, the author broke the 4th wall a lot, and while I don't mind when authors do that, he was kind of annoying. He'd interject to say how he loves drawing figures by hand and everybody should, which I think serves no purpose than to be boastful and preachy. That's just one example I can think of out of many. ( )

Unknown Quantity is the history of algebra from the very beginnings with commerce-related word problems to the present day world of abstract algebras, plural. The author provides some of the necessary background to topic in short chapters on the math itself, as opposed to the history. A fine bibliography is included.

John Derbyshire writes in a clear and precise style. While many of the topics are very advanced (4th year math or grad level), he attempts to present the material so most readers can at least have a vague idea of what is happening. His historical narrative is wonderful!

I really have no bad things to say about this book, except it gave me a headache. The math is in the deep end of the pool in the later chapters. While one could skip the sections, the historical narrative would not mean as much without the rudimentary understanding of the math involved.

Overall, I think this book is great. I hesitate to say I love it, because, honestly, it reminded me of how much math I have forgotten and how much I want to learn. ( )

Unknown Quantity is an interesting volume. Math, and algebra specifically would normally seem to be a pretty dry subject (i ceratinly thought so all through college), however, John Derbyshire has created an incredibly readable history. Reading this will bring back memories of some of the materials you studied in your school days - but presented much more attractively. Part history, part primer (of algebraic concepts), part biography, Derbyshire gives algebra personality - a shifting personality as he examines the key men and woman responsible for the continuous evolution (who would have thought algebra has changed so dramatically in the last 100 years?) of algebra. Althoiugh some of the equations can make your head hurt - this volume is worth reading (reminds me of the old saying "Math is fun!") ( )