Once Upon A Number: A Mathematician Bridges Stories And Statistics

What two things could be more different than numbers and stories? Numbers are abstract, certain, and eternal, but to most of us somewhat dry and bloodless. Good stories are full of life: they engage our emotions and have subtlety and nuance, but they lack rigor and the truths they tell are elusive and subject to debate. As ways of understanding the world around us, numbers and stories seem almost completely incompatible.__Once Upon a Number__ shows that stories and numbers aren’t as different as you might imagine, and in fact they have surprising and fascinating connections. The concepts of logic and probability both grew out of intuitive ideas about how certain situations would play out. Now, logicians are inventing ways to deal with real world situations by mathematical means—by acknowledging, for instance, that items that are mathematically interchangeable may not be interchangeable in a story. And complexity theory looks at both number strings and narrative strings in remarkably similar terms.Throughout, renowned author John Paulos mixes numbers and narratives in his own delightful style. Along with lucid accounts of cutting-edge information theory we get hilarious anecdotes and jokes; instructions for running a truly impressive pyramid scam; a freewheeling conversation between Groucho Marx and Bertrand Russell (while they’re stuck in an elevator together); explanations of why the statistical evidence against OJ Simpson was overwhelming beyond doubt and how the Unabomber’s thinking shows signs of mathematical training; and dozens of other treats. This is another winner from America’s favorite mathematician. What two things could be more different than numbers and stories? Numbers are abstract, certain, and eternal, but to most of us somewhat dry and bloodless. Good stories are full of life: they engage our emotions and have subtlety and nuance, but they lack rigor and the truths they tell are elusive and subject to debate. As ways of understanding the world around us, numbers and stories seem almost completely incompatible. Once Upon a Number shows that stories and numbers aren't as different as you might imagine, and in fact they have surprising and fascinating connections. The concepts of logic and probability both grew out of intuitive ideas about how certain situations would play out. Now, logicians are inventing ways to deal with real world situations by mathematical means — by acknowledging, for instance, that items that are mathematically interchangeable may not be interchangeable in a story. And complexity theory looks at both number strings and narrative strings in remarkably similar terms. Throughout, renowned author John Paulos mixes numbers and narratives in his own delightful style. Along with lucid accounts of cutting-edge information theory we get hilarious anecdotes and jokes; instructions for running a truly impressive pyramid scam; a freewheeling conversation between Groucho Marx and Bertrand Russell (while they're stuck in an elevator together); explanations of why the statistical evidence against OJ Simpson was overwhelming beyond doubt and how the Unabomber's thinking shows signs of mathematical training; and dozens of other treats. This is another winner from America's favorite mathematician. Once Upon A Number Shows That Stories And Numbers Aren't As Different As You Might Imagine, And In Fact They Have Surprising And Fascinating Connections. The Concepts Of Logic And Probability Both Grew Out Of Intuitive Ideas About How Certain Stories Would Play Out. Now, Logicians Are Inventing Ways To Deal With Real World Situations By Mathematical Means - By Acknowledging, For Instance, That Items That Are Mathematically Interchangeable May Not Be Interchangeable In A Story. And Complexity Theory Looks At Both Number Strings And Narrative Strings In Remarkably Similar Terms. Beside Lucid Accounts Of Cutting-edge Information Theory We Get Hilarious Anecdotes And Jokes; Instructions For Running A Truly Impressive Pyramid Scam As Well As A New Religious Hoax; A Freewheeling Conversation Between Groucho Marx And Bertrand Russell; Explanations Of Why The Mundane Facts Of The O.j. Simpson Case Are Overwhelmingly Incriminating; How The Unabomber's Thinking Shows Signs Of Mathematical Training; Why We're Much More Likely To Feel Aggrieved Than Aggrieving; And Dozens Of Other Treats. Introduction -- Between Stories And Statistics -- Between Subjective Viewpoint And Impersonal Probability -- Between Informal Discourse And Logic -- Between Meaning And Information -- Bridging The Gap. John Allen Paulos. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 203-205) And Index. "Once Upon a Number shows that stories and numbers aren't as different as you might imagine, and in fact they have surprising and fascinating connections. The concepts of logic and probability both grew out of intuitive ideas about how certain stories would play out. Now, logicians are inventing ways to deal with real world situations by mathematical means - by acknowledging, for instance, that items that are mathematically interchangeable may not be interchangeable in a story. And complexity theory looks at both number strings and narrative strings in remarkably similar terms."--BOOK JACKET. "Beside lucid accounts of cutting-edge information theory we get hilarious anecdotes and jokes; instructions for running a truly impressive pyramid scam as well as a new religious hoax; a freewheeling conversation between Groucho Marx and Bertrand Russell; explanations of why the mundane facts of the O. J. Simpson case are overwhelmingly incriminating; how the Unabomber's thinking shows signs of mathematical training; why we're much more likely to feel aggrieved than aggrieving; and dozens of other treats."--BOOK JACKET. As ways of understanding the world around us, numbers and stories seem almost completely incompatible. This study aims to show that stories and numbers aren't as different as might be imagined, and in fact they have surprising and fascinating connections. A look at the newest and most advanced information theories includes hilarious stories, anecdotes and more, including a conversation between Groucho Marx and Bertrand Russell and an examination of the evidence in the O. J. Simpson trial. Reprint.