100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock πŸ‡³πŸ‡Ώ

Overnight NZ-wide delivery on in-stock orders πŸš€

Ponderables Mathematics

An Illustrated History of Numbers
Series: Ponderables
Brief Description
Here is the updated essential guide to mathematics, an authoritative reference book and timeline that explores the work of history's greatest mathematicians. These include the teasing genius of Pierre de Fermat, who said he knew the answers but rarely gave them up, and the helpful guidance... Read More
Format: Hardback
$6300

International Supplier

This title is in-stock with overseas suppliers. While it is not available locally, we fly books in weekly from the US and UK to our Auckland warehouse for immediate dispatch.

AVAILABLE WITH SUPPLIER Ships from our Auckland warehouse within 2-3 weeks

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Here is the updated essential guide to mathematics, an authoritative reference book and timeline that explores the work of history's greatest mathematicians.

These include the teasing genius of Pierre de Fermat, who said he knew the answers but rarely gave them up, and the helpful guidance of Fibonacci, whose 13th-century compendium for bookkeepers proved to be a valuable tool for the most high-minded mathematicians. Additionally, the fractal pattern discovered by WacΕ‚aw SierpiΕ„ski is now used to plan the route a mailman takes.

With a glimpse of the abstract landscapes of infinite numbers and multi-dimensional shapes that these incredible minds explore, we can begin to get beyond school-day sums and understand the true power of mathematics.

Ponderables: Mathematics offers insight into these conceptual journeys, enabling a deeper appreciation of the subject.

Series: Ponderables

View all
  • Psychology - Ponderables
    Here is the essential guide to psychology, an authoritative reference book and timeline that examines how we learned to understand ourselves. Psychology - Ponderables is a young science. While great thinkers have pondered the nature of thought itself for centuries, the idea of using scientific experiments to examine the way we think, make decisions, and behave was only arrived at...
    Hardback
    $3600
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 1 week
  • Ponderables Computer Science
    Here is the updated essential guide to computers, an authoritative reference book and timeline about the most powerful tools ever devised. Computing has been the sharp end of cutting-edge technology for a generation and it now permeates all our lives. But to many, computer science remains something of a mystery. Our story begins long before the silicon chip, when the...
    Hardback
    $3999
    Elsewhere:
    $4999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Biology
    Here is the essential guide to Biology, an authoritative reference book and timeline that examines how we have uncovered the secrets of lifeβ€”the most complex process in the Universe. From the workings of molecules to the way entire oceans or continents of lifeforms interact, biology seeks to understand how it is that something can be alive, how it fends off...
    Hardback
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Ponderables Engineering
    Here is the updated essential guide to engineering, an authoritative reference book and timeline about how technology has given shape to our civilisation. Engineering predates humanity; Homo habilis was knapping hand axes from fist-sized flints more than a thousand centuries before the dawn of modern humans. Admittedly, the development of technology was slow back then, but we've made up for...
    Hardback
    $6300
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Ponderables Physics
    Here is the updated essential guide to physics, an authoritative reference book and timeline that examines the foundations upon which all scientific knowledge rests. Without physics, everything elseβ€”from astronomy to zoologyβ€”would be meaningless conjecture. Our journey begins with the first attempts to understand reality, Mother Natureβ€”or as the ancient Greeks called it, physis. Follow the journey through history as great...
    Hardback
    $3999
    Elsewhere:
    $4999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Ponderables The Elements
    Here is the updated essential guide to the Periodic Table, an authoritative reference book and timeline with at-a-glance information for every element. The Periodic Table, set out by Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869, is the result of centuries of accumulated knowledge. It is a powerful yet elegant tool that opens a window onto the very stuff of natureβ€”stars, rocks, life, and...
    Hardback
    $3999
    Elsewhere:
    $4999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Ponderables Mathematics
    Here is the updated essential guide to mathematics, an authoritative reference book and timeline that explores the work of history's greatest mathematicians. These include the teasing genius of Pierre de Fermat, who said he knew the answers but rarely gave them up, and the helpful guidance of Fibonacci, whose 13th-century compendium for bookkeepers proved to be a valuable tool for...
    Hardback
    $6300
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Philosophy
    Both art and science attempt answers to the big questionsβ€”what is truth, how to be good, and where did we come from?β€”but philosophy is the interpreter we turn to verify it all. We need it to make sense of the simplest maths and the most esoteric of poetry, and it has even created a science of information itself. We begin...
    Hardback
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Ponderables Technology
    Here is the essential guide to the history of technology, an authoritative reference book and timeline that examines how tools have built our civilisation, changed our environment, and could even alter our species. The term technology is frequently associated with modernity and the possibilities of the future. However, we have been using technologies since before the dawn of history. Even...
    Hardback
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Physics
    Here is the essential guide to physics, an authoritative reference book and timeline that examines the foundations upon which all scientific knowledge rests. Without physics, everything else - from astronomy to zoology - would be a meaningless conjecture. Our journey begins with the first attempts to understand reality, Mother Nature - or as the ancient Greeks called it, physics. Follow...
    Hardback
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Brain
    The brain's cells are wired together with 100 trillion connections. That makes each and every human brain a contender as the most complex system in the universe, a system that endows us with an intellect that far outstrips that of any other creature. However, there is one difficult question remaining: Are we intelligent enough to understand our own brains? Follow...
    Hardback
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Ponderables - Mathematics
    Legend has it that the first magic square, where all lines and diagonals add up to the same figure, was revealed more than 2,000 years ago when a river turtle appeared to have ancient Chinese numerals inscribed on sections of its shell. Patterns are everywhere in nature, and counting, measuring, and calculating changes are as old as civilisation itself. Here...
    Hardback
    Sold Out

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781627951968

Publisher: Shelter Harbor Press

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 19 November 2024

Country: United States

Imprint: Shelter Harbor Press

Edition: 2024 Updated Edition

Illustration: Illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 235.0mm

Height: 285.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 144

About the Author

Tom Jackson is a science writer based in the United Kingdom. Tom specializes in recasting science and technology into lively historical narratives. After almost 20 years of writing, Tom has uncovered a wealth of stories that help create new ways to enjoy learning about science. He studied at the University of Bristol and still lives in the city with his wife and three children.

Also by Tom Jackson

View all
  • The Magnificent Book of Reptiles and Amphibians
    This beautiful book will have you captivated! From a terrifying king cobra to a tiny red-eyed tree frog, a rare Galapagos tortoise to a bright Parson's chameleon, The Magnificent Book of Reptiles and Amphibians is the perfect introduction to these fascinating creatures. Each stunning, detailed illustration is accompanied by intriguing facts, amounting to a wonderful keepsake that you will revisit...
    Hardback
    $3000
    Available
    Ships in 1 week
  • Psychology - Ponderables
    Here is the essential guide to psychology, an authoritative reference book and timeline that examines how we learned to understand ourselves. Psychology - Ponderables is a young science. While great thinkers have pondered the nature of thought itself for centuries, the idea of using scientific experiments to examine the way we think, make decisions, and behave was only arrived at...
    Hardback
    $3600
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 1 week
  • The Magnificent Book of Dinosaurs
    Travel back in time to meet the most magnificent dinosaurs in close up. The Magnificent Book of Dinosaurs takes you back to prehistoric times to meet 36 incredible beasts. From the terrifying T. rex to the speedy Velociraptor, this book depicts some of the most incredible dinosaurs in stunning and accurate original illustrations. Intriguing facts accompany every illustration, so you...
    Hardback
    $3200
    Elsewhere:
    $3500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • How Do We Stop Climate Change?
    A unique and beautiful approach to understanding climate change with practical actions to help protect the planet. Climate change is an important, yet complicated, subject. How Do We Stop Climate Change? makes it accessible for all ages, from the 8+ year-olds inspired by Greta Thunberg to parents and teachers. Beautiful illustrations from noted picture book illustrator Dragan Kordic combine with...
    Hardback
    $3500
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Magnificent Book of Prehistoric Beasts
    Journey back in time to see the world’s most magnificent prehistoric beasts close up. The Magnificent Book of Prehistoric Beasts takes you on a journey back in time to an ancient world, where peculiar beasts roamed the Earth and swam in the seas. Meet the mighty woolly mammoth with its huge tusks for finding food, a saber-toothed cat with teeth...
    Hardback
    $3600
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Ponderables Computer Science
    Here is the updated essential guide to computers, an authoritative reference book and timeline about the most powerful tools ever devised. Computing has been the sharp end of cutting-edge technology for a generation and it now permeates all our lives. But to many, computer science remains something of a mystery. Our story begins long before the silicon chip, when the...
    Hardback
    $3999
    Elsewhere:
    $4999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Magnificent Book of Dangerous Animals
    Learn about 36 dangerous animals in this beautifully illustrated reference book filled with fascinating facts. The Magnificent Book of Dangerous Animals takes you into the wilderness where you will encounter all sorts of wild and dangerous creatures. From predatory orcas powering the waves to green anacondas ready to deliver a deadly hug, The Magnificent Book of Dangerous Animals captures a...
    Hardback
    $3999
    Backorder
    Ships late August
  • The Magnificent Book of Ocean Creatures
    Dive into the world’s oceans, exploring sunlit coral reefs, wide open seas, and the murky depths to meet 36 magnificent ocean creatures. Take a journey through oceans and seas to discover 36 magnificent marine animals, from the immense blue whale to speedy flying fish. Encounter fierce predators like the great white shark and orca, as well as truly bizarre creatures...
    Hardback
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Magnificent Book of Horses
    This beautifully illustrated series will have you captivated. Stunning illustrations, intriguing facts, and a large format make an engaging reference to revisit time and again. From stocky Shetland ponies and gentle Welsh cobs to energetic Arabian horses and muscular destriers, dozens of horse breeds are depicted in beautiful full-colour illustrations. Accompanied by a selection of intriguing facts about each horse,...
    Hardback
    $5300
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Astronomy (Ponderables)
    Here is the essential guide to astronomy, an authoritative reference book and timeline that traces how, over many centuries, great minds have figured out where we and our planet fit in the great expanse of the Universe. Since time immemorial, people have looked out into the night sky and brought back knowledge on how the Universe works. Gradually, astronomers have...
    Hardback
    $6400
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Biology
    Here is the essential guide to Biology, an authoritative reference book and timeline that examines how we have uncovered the secrets of lifeβ€”the most complex process in the Universe. From the workings of molecules to the way entire oceans or continents of lifeforms interact, biology seeks to understand how it is that something can be alive, how it fends off...
    Hardback
    $3999
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Insect Architecture
    The essential illustrated guide to the ingenious techniques that insects use to construct an astounding array of natural structures, from nests to shelters to traps Insect Architecture takes you inside the amazing structures that insects build, from the paper galleries of yellowjacket wasps to elaborate termite mounds complete with royal chambers and air-conditioning systems. Each chapter focuses on a group...
    Hardback
    $5799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

More from Science & Nature

View all
  • Murder Under the Mistletoe
    BOOK 4 IN THE BESTSELLING CANON CLEMENT MYSTERY SERIES 'The best of the new cosy crime writers' Daily Telegraph 'You'll want to take a front row pew in Champton while this delicious series unfolds' Janice Hallett It is Christmas Day and at Champton Rectory, Canon Daniel Clement and his mother Audrey are joined by the residents and guests of the...
    Paperback
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • John and Paul
    THE SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 'A triumph.' Deborah Levy, New Statesman 'Tremendous.' Alwyn Turner, The Times 'Revelatory.' Simon Schama, Financial Times 'The gold standard of Beatles books.' Anthony Quinn, Observer 'As enthralling and astonishing as their music.' Jon Dennis, Sunday Telegraph 'A masterpiece.' Dylan Jones, Evening Standard '[Ian Leslie]...
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3299
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Raising Hare
    THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES AND NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2025 SHORTLISTED FOR WATERSTONES BOOK OF THE YEAR 2024 SHORTLISTED FOR THE HATCHARDS AND BIOGRAPHERS' CLUB FIRST BIOGRAPHY PRIZE A BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR THE HAY FESTIVAL, SUNDAY TIMES, THE TIMES, FINANCIAL TIMES, SPECTATOR AND iNEWS 'A beautiful book' - ANGELINA JOLIE 'I...
    Paperback
    $2400
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • What If? 10th Anniversary Edition
    CELEBRATING TEN YEARS OF THE MILLION-SELLING POP SCIENCE CLASSIC WITH A SPECIAL EDITION. THIS IS WHAT IF? . . . x10. THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Nerd royalty' β€” BEN GOLDACRE 'Totally brilliant' β€” TIM HARFORD 'Required reading across the world' β€” NEW YORK TIMES From the creator of the wildly popular xkcd.com, experience hilarious and informative answers to important questions...
    Hardback
    $4200
    Elsewhere:
    $5000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Nuclear War
    The Sunday Times bestselling non-fiction thriller that has to be read to be believed. Baillie Gifford shortlisted, a favourite of Steven Bartlett, with an average reader rating of 4.6, sure to be a mass-market hit. Up to now, no one outside of official circles has known exactly what would happen if a rogue state launched a nuclear missile at the...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Anxious Generation
    A powerful argument for reclaiming childhoodβ€”and all human relationshipsβ€”from the online world, from the influential social psychologist and international bestselling author. Jonathan Haidt has spent his career speaking truth and wisdom in some of the most difficult spacesβ€”communities polarised by politics and religion, campuses battling culture wars, and now the mental health emergency hitting teenagers today in many countries around...
    Paperback
    $2299
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Prisoners of Geography
    Prisoners of Geography looks at the past, present, and future to offer crucial insights into one of the major factors that determine world history – because if you don’t know geography, you’ll never have the full picture. Originally published in 2015, this completely revised and updated edition brings it up to date with the events and trends of the past...
    Paperback
    $2899
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Booker Prize
    Orbital
    Winner of the Booker Prize 2024. Chair of the judges, Edmund de Waal, describes the winner as 'a book about a wounded world' adding that the panel's 'unanimity about Orbital recognises its beauty and ambition'. Life on our planet as you've never seen it before. A team of astronauts in the International Space Station collect meteorological data, conduct scientific experiments...
    Paperback
    $2200
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Diddly Squat: Home to Roost
    It's been another memorable year on Diddly Squat Farm - will the chickens finally come home to roost? Welcome back to Clarkson's Farm. The spring crop failed. Farming sheep, pigs, and cows was hardly more lucrative (better off breeding ostriches...) But in the face of uncooperative weather, bureaucracy, and the world's persistent refusal to recognise his genius, our hero's not...
    Paperback
    $2600
    Elsewhere:
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Place of Tides
    To save the world, we have to start somewhere. One afternoon many years ago, James Rebanks met an old woman on a remote Norwegian island. She lived and worked alone on a tiny rocky outcrop, caring for wild ducks and gathering their down. Hers was a centuries-old trade that had once made men and women rich, but had long been...
    Paperback
    $3000
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • Ultra-Processed People
    Launching the runaway bestseller with ambitions to be the biggest non-fiction paperback of the year IT'S NOT YOU. IT'S THE FOOD. "If you only read one diet or nutrition book in your life, make it this one" - Bee Wilson "You've got to get this book in your life . . . Completely compelling . . . Read a page...
    Paperback
    $2500
    Elsewhere:
    $2800
    In Stock
    Ships today
  • The Island of Missing Trees
    The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak is a captivating and poignant novel that delves into the intertwined lives of two star-crossed lovers in war-torn Cyprus and their enduring legacy decades later. This Sunday Times bestselling novel intricately weaves themes of love, loss, and identity amidst a backdrop of cultural and historical turmoil. Set in 1974 on the island...
    Paperback
    $2300
    Elsewhere:
    $2600
    In Stock
    Ships today

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.