Description

‘Playful and deeply serious … shows how exploring equality in maths may help the real world’ NEW SCIENTIST

‘Eugenia Cheng has humour, grace and a natural gift’ DANIEL LEVITIN

‘Clear, clever and friendly…even at her most whimsical, she is rigorous and insightful’ ALEX BELLOS

When we see an equals sign, we usually see something clear cut: problem on one side, solution on the other. We might need to shuffle some things around – balance the equation – to get there, but it’s all pretty clear cut…isn’t it?

As it turns out, between those parallel lines lies something far more exciting than questions and answers. An equals sign is an invitation to a mathematical playground of choice and abstraction. By opening your mind to different mathematical choices and perspectives, you can unlock far greater insight than you could have dreamed.

Eugenia Cheng explores the rich and rewarding interplay between sameness and difference, and offers us a new way to see the world based on the choices and interpretations we make. A glorious celebration of mathematics, Unequal will change the way you think – in maths, and in life.

Publisher Review

Praise for Is Maths Real? * : * A generous tour of mathematics for anyone whose instincts tend less towards “Just tell me the answer” and more towards “Wait, but why?” — Jordan Ellenberg, author of ‘Shape’ Intriguing … Celebrates the dizziness and disorientation engendered by childlike questions that hint at the deep mysteries beneath — Anil Ananthaswamy * New Scientist * Passionate, eye-opening and accessible … a love letter to the curious spirit of the discipline * Waterstones Best Books of 2023 * A brilliant rebuttal to those who see math as only about right answers, rather than about creative discovery. [Cheng] masterfully uncovers what’s simply profound in the profoundly simple — Francis Su, author of ‘Mathematics for Human Flourishing’ Discover what it feels like to be a real mathematician … This is a human pursuit, depicted here from the inside — Simon Ings * Telegraph * An entertaining foray into the more philosophical realms of mathematics … for the budding mathematician in the house, to say nothing of lovers of puzzles and enigmas * Kirkus * Praise for x + y * : * ‘A way of seeing this exhausting debate from a completely new angle … bold and optimistic * Guardian * A fascinating, disarmingly accessible read and a wonderful example of what academics should in general do much more of * Irish Times * Compelling … x+y provides useful new tools for change, for those – like me – involved in diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. For those who are not yet involved, she sets out reasons to become so. And I’m a new fan of pure mathematics. Dr Cheng, can we be friends? * Nature * This book changed my life in the most beautiful way. Eugenia Cheng doesn’t just explain why the way our society conceptualizes gender is all wrong – she proposes a new way of thinking about – and beyond – gender. Through accessible graphs and brilliant metaphor, Cheng pushes her readers instead to think about a person’s behavior … Stunning — Rebecca Ramirez * NPR *