Vector

Vector embarks on an enlightening and exhilarating journey through the annals of human thought, spanning an incredible 5000 years. The stars of this story, vectors and tensors, might seem like unlikely protagonists, yet mathematician and science writer Robyn Arianrhod masterfully reveals their profound impact on our understanding of the universe. From the earliest forms of recording data to the revolutionary theories of modern physics, this book demonstrates how these mathematical constructs have shaped the course of scientific discovery.

Arianrhod showcases how the concept of vectors enabled James Clerk Maxwell to herald the wireless electromagnetic age, inspired Albert Einstein to predict the curving of space-time and the existence of gravitational waves, empowered Paul Dirac to formulate quantum field theory, and allowed Emmy Noether to connect mathematical symmetry with the conservation of energy. Today, whether it's navigating with GPS, searching online, or simply using your mobile phone, vectors and tensors are integral to these technologies.

With gripping narrative clarity, Vector illustrates the brilliance required to rethink our world. It dives deep into the intellectual rigour and creativity that have led to some of the most pivotal scientific breakthroughs, making the complex subject matter accessible and engaging for readers.

Vector is praised for its capacity to demystify mathematics. Adam Spencer, author of Adam Spencer's Big Book of Numbers: Everything you wanted to know about the numbers 1 to 100, lauds the book, stating, "In Vector, Arianrhod shows, with beautiful ease, that maths is not some foreign world only geeks inhabit. It is the world around us."

Joseph Mazur, author of The Clock Mirage: Our Myth of Measured Time, echoes this sentiment, describing it as "a masterpiece of science exposition that reads as a welcoming cognitive cliffhanger tour of vectors, their generalisations, and their accompanying symbolic tools of mathematical physics, all dovetailing through germane historical vignettes of astonishing connections and applications."

The Bookseller highlights the book’s unique angle, noting, "A vector is a quantity that has magnitude and, crucially, direction. This idea has enabled physicists and mathematicians to imagine and describe the world in new dimensions. The author traces the influence of vectors over the past 5,000 years, and why vectors (and tensors) are still relevant today."

Charles Seife, author of Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea, emphasises the significance of Arianrhod's contribution, writing, "Only as the mathematical toolkit expanded from simple scalars to include such tools and ideas as quaternions and vectors and tensors could physicists and mathematicians find the language to describe an increasingly bewildering universe. Arianrhod does a remarkable job telling the story of the mathematical revolution under the hood, the engine that drove the physics revolutions of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries; the result is a book well worth your time."

Marjorie Senechal, editor-in-chief of The Mathematical Intelligencer, expounds on the book's educational value, asserting, "If all mathematics disappeared," physicist Richard Feynman opined, "it would set physics back precisely one week." To which mathematician Mark Kac retorted, "Precisely the week in which God created the world." Arianrhod persuades us that vectors and tensors are among those creations. Students and teachers should read this excellent book together."

Amir Alexander, author of Infinitesimal: How a Dangerous Mathematical Theory Shaped the Modern World, admires Arianrhod's exposition, "With a flair for exposition that makes the complex simple, and a gift for storytelling, Arianrhod is without peer in conveying the beauty and power of mathematics. William Rowan Hamilton, James Clerk Maxwell, and Albert Einstein come alive in this dramatic tale of a simple idea that changed our world."

Sean Carroll, author of The Biggest Ideas in the Universe, succinctly captures the book’s essence, "Everyone understands what it means to move at some particular speed in some particular direction. But it took a long time to start thinking of such behaviour in terms of a single clarifying concept, the vector. Arianrhod's lively and detailed chronicle explains why vectors and tensors are at the heart of our best ways to think about the universe."

Robyn Douglass of The Daily Telegraph praises the human element in Arianrhod's narrative, noting, "Mathematician Robyn Arianrhod tells the story beautifully...a very human story of how men and women explored and refined pure maths and physics, their friendships and rivalries, frustrations and insights. Dr Arianrhod is most effective in describing collaboration across time and nationalities, as well-trained minds and curious mavericks picked up the challenge to understand our universe."

Peter Main commends the book, "Written with wit and impressive scholarship in both history and mathematics."

Finally, Michael Lucy of Australian Book Review reflects on Arianrhod's exhaustive research, "Arianrhod has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the history of physics and mathematics, as well as a deep understanding of often very technical subject matter...Arianrhod's deep research and attention to neglected figures in the history of science, many of them women, is refreshing...Vector is a fascinating read."

Vector by Robyn Arianrhod is not just a narrative of mathematical history, but a testament to human ingenuity. Whether you are a student, a teacher, or a curious reader, this book promises to enrich your understanding of the world through the lens of vectors and tensors, making it an indispensable addition to your collection.