Poor Robin’s prophecies : a curious almanac, and the everyday mathematics of Georgian Britain

Cover Page -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Contents -- List of illustrations -- Chapter 1 'Doctor Faustus' day': Making it fun -- Chapter 2 'The dismal and long expected morning': Getting it wrong -- Chapter 3 'Fitted to the meanest capacity': Learning it -- Chapter 4 'My Scarbrough expenses': Using it -- Chapter 5 'Close and demonstrative reasoning': Beautifying the mind -- Chapter 6 'An universal Mathesis': Ordering the world -- Chapter 7 'A compleat Officer of Artillery': Getting it right -- Chapter 8 'The terrible pons asinorum': Playing with it -- Acknowledgements -- Notes on sources -- Index.;Author, astrologer, journalist, satirist, and 'well-willer to the mathematics', Poor Robin of Saffron Walden was a fantastic, yet invented, figure of British popular culture from the Restoration to the end of the Georgian period. Poor Robin's Almanac first appeared in 1662, developing an enthusiastic following and long outliving its original creator to last until 1828. Benjamin Wardhaugh tells the great story of Georgian popular mathematics - through Poor Robin's remarkable life, from his humble beginnings as an almanac-writer through to best-selling stardom, controversy, and decline. Using the character, wit, and columns of Poor Robin, Wardhaugh explores the mathematics of ordinary people, from learning sums to using mathematics in weighing and measuring, in business, agriculture, map-making, and navigation. This is a history of mathematics that is rarely thought about -- creative, popular, and led by practical and social needs. It is centered on the ordinary people that used it. Their names remain little-known; their solutions have vanished along with the situations that required them; but their energy and ideas - as captured by Poor Robin - create a wonderfully rich picture of what mathematics can be, and has been.
author, Astrologer, Journalist, Satirist, And 'well-willer To The Mathematics', Poor Robin Of Saffron Walden Was A Fantastic, Yet Invented, Figure Of British Popular Culture From The Restoration To The End Of The Georgian Period. poor Robin's Almanac First Appeared In 1662, Developing An Enthusiastic Following And Long Outliving Its Original Creator To Last Until 1828.

benjamin Wardhaugh Tells The Great Story Of Georgian Popular Mathematics - Through Poor Robin's Remarkable Life, From His Humble Beginnings As An Almanac-writer Through To Best-selling Stardom, Controversy, And Decline. Using The Character, Wit, And Columns Of Poor Robin, Wardhaugh Explores The Mathematics Of Ordinary People, From Learning Sums To Using Mathematics In Weighing And Measuring, In Business, Agriculture, Map-making, And Navigation.

this Is A History Of Mathematics That Is Rarely Thought About -- Creative, Popular, And Led By Practical And Social Needs. It Is Centered On The Ordinary People That Used It. Their Names Remain Little-known; Their Solutions Have Vanished Along With The Situations That Required Them; But Their Energy And Ideas - As Captured By Poor Robin - Create A Wonderfully Rich Picture Of What Mathematics Can Be, And Has Been.

Tells the story of how ordinary people in eighteenth-century Britain learned and applied popular practical mathematics to weighing and measuring, business, agriculture, surveying, and navigation. The annual almanac 'Poor Robin'--first published in 1663 and outliving its original creator to last until 1828--supplied the data everyone needed about the coming year's tides, equinoxes, and astronomical events. Poor Robin of Saffron Walden, a fantastical figure in British popular culture from the Restoration to the end of the Georgian period, also provided arithmetical tips and tricks as well as subversive spoof astrology and political satire. Read more... Abstract: From the reign of Charles II to the early 19th century, a curious Almanac - part 'teach-yourself mathematics', part political satire - promoted the use of science in everyday life and trades. Benjamin Wardaugh tells the story of the rumbustious 'Poor Robin of Saffron Walden', and the rise of popular science in Georgian England. Read more...