Mathematics and common sense : a case of creative tension /

In the preface to his collection of essays, Davis (emer., Brown Univ.) writes: "This book is addressed to all who are curious about the nature of mathematics and its role in society. It is neither a textbook nor a specialists' book." However, much of the material has been adapted from articles Davis originally wrote for SIAM News, which is aimed squarely at mathematicians. The essays will be best appreciated by mathematicians interested in the philosophy of mathematics. A great deal of the material will go over the heads of nonmathematician readers. The examples Davis provides are often not even seen until the graduate level. There are many interesting mathematical tidbits that could intrigue a general audience, but they are typically not explained in sufficient detail. The Mobius band is mentioned with no indication as to how it is constructed; the five regular polyhedra are listed without illustration; eigenvalues are mentioned without being defined; and so on. The "Further Reading" lists at the ends of the chapters are not well thought out; they include many technical papers that a general audience will not understand, as well as e-mail messages the author received. Summing Up: Not recommended. C. Bauer York College of Pennsylvania