Ten fascinating math books for quarantine.

In celebration of National Mathematics Day, celebrated this Wednesday (6), IMPA has prepared an intense virtual program with live streams and webinars . But for those who prefer to occupy their free time during this quarantine reading a good book, we have prepared a selection of works for those passionate about mathematics. The books are not necessarily technical, but they tell stories about this science in a fun and inspiring way. Check it out:

1. The Science of Luck – Adam Kucharski (Zahar)

A journey through the roulette tables of Las Vegas and the horse racing tracks of Hong Kong offers an accessible and entertaining account of the intersection between the world of gambling and science. The book recounts how physicists, mathematicians, computer scientists, and statisticians revolutionized gambling. And also how the opposite happened, with Fermat and Pascal using dice games to lay the foundations of probability theory; Von Neumann and Turing finding inspiration in poker, and so on. An interesting analysis of how the search for the perfect bet has influenced diverse fields such as chaos theory, behavioral psychology, and artificial intelligence.

2 – Geometric Topology for the Restless – Ton marar (EDUSP)

The author teaches us to develop sensitivity to perceive certain three-dimensional objects without borders, called hypersurfaces. The first chapter contains a reflection on mathematical models, tools through which abstract mathematics can be used in the interpretation of phenomena and in solving problems. With a curious mix of mathematics and faith, the work also describes how Platonic and Keplerian theories seek to explain the cosmos.

3 – Pioneers of Mathematics – Ian Stewart (Zahar)

Despite its mystical components, mathematics is made by human minds, who, with originality and perseverance, make revolutionary discoveries throughout history. In this work, one of the most renowned contemporary mathematicians presents the life and work of 25 great names in this science, men and women, pioneers in their fields of study. They are giants such as Isaac Newton, Carl Friedrich Gauss, Henri Poincaré, Ada Lovelace, Alan Turing, among others.

4 – The Mathematician's Brain – David Ruelle (Gradiva)

Were the world's most successful mathematicians brilliant because they were eccentric, or were they brilliant despite being so? This is the fundamental question posed by Ruelle in his work. In an intriguing and entertaining way, the author exposes the eccentricities, personal tragedies, bizarre behaviors, bouts of madness, tragic ends, and astonishing discoveries of the greatest names in this science. More than a list of curiosities about these characters, the book explores the philosophical questions of mathematical ideas, using this framework to reflect on the meaning of things, beauty, and the nature of reality.

5 – Euclid's Elements – David Berlinski (Zahar)

Euclid of Alexandria's magnum opus, "The Elements," has been at the center of geometry studies for over two thousand years. In this book, the author sheds light on the different aspects of Euclidean geometry, which describes a powerful system of forms and spaces, made up of straight lines, circles, squares, triangles, numbers, proportions, and the theory of magnitude. Blending mathematics, history, and philosophy, the work is not only a narrative about Euclid but also a celebration of the power of ideas.

6 – Flatland, the flat country – Edwin A. Abbott (Gradiva)

Imagine living in a country with only two dimensions? That's how the characters in this 1884 classic live. Inhabited by a hierarchical society of regular geometric figures, the novel's protagonist is a square who one day dreams of a one-dimensional world inhabited by points, and tries to convince the other inhabitants of the existence of a second dimension. By imagining contact between beings from different dimensions, the adventure explores the analogy between the limitations of humans. A literary success, the work has been adapted for film .

7 – Number: The Language of Science – Tobias Dantzig (Zahar)

If you're curious to learn about the history of numbers, from prehistory to the 20th century, this is the book for you. With an accessible and objective narrative, Dantzig discusses the development of concepts in the field, from negative numbers and fractions to more complex topics such as the idea of infinity. He explores aspects that stimulated the construction of mathematics throughout the centuries, such as trade, wars, and even religions.

8 – History of Mathematics – Tatiana Roque (Companhia das Letras)

The first Brazilian book on the general history of mathematics, this work presents a critical perspective on how this trajectory has been told until now. The author demystifies some myths that contribute to the "idealized view" of mathematics, such as the idea that it is essentially abstract and theoretical, with a rigid structure. By addressing mathematical systems developed from Mesopotamia to the 19th century – passing through ancient Egypt, classical Greece, the Middle Ages, the so-called Scientific Revolution, and the debates of the 18th century – the book shows that different mathematical practices have always coexisted, presenting diverse solutions to similar problems.

9 – The Man Who Counted – Malba Tahan (pseudonym of Julio César de Mello Souza) (Record)

A classic is a classic, and this one couldn't be left out of this list. Frequently cited by researchers and students at IMPA as the book that sparked their interest in mathematics in childhood, the work narrates the story of the Persian Beremiz Samir in 13th-century Baghdad. In his travels through the medieval Islamic world, he solves various mathematical problems and puzzles. A great and fun way to learn mathematical logic and other curiosities. The book became so famous that National Mathematics Day (May 6th) is on the birthdate of its author, Julio César de Mello Souza, immortalized as Malba Tahan.

10 – Alex in Numberland – Alex Bellos (Companhia das Letras)

Written in a light and engaging style, the book narrates the adventures of the author, a graduate in mathematics and philosophy, in the world of numbers, showing that teaching mathematics doesn't have to be boring. Traveling between different languages and cultures, the author investigates the fascinating properties of the Sudoku puzzle; converses with a French researcher specializing in the quantitative reasoning of indigenous tribes in the Amazon; interacts with an Indian guru responsible for the legacy of the mythical creator of zero, among other feats. Without abandoning technical rigor, the author deconstructs mathematical preconceptions, showing that mathematics can be an inexhaustible source of entertainment.