Figuring It Out Entertaining Encounters with Everyday Math

From the reviews:

“All people, including professional mathematicians, should read some of the popular works of mathematics. Taking that as a given, this book should be a bestseller within mathematical circles. It contains a set of short essays about mathematics as it is used in the lives of all people. Generally 3–4 pages in length, the essays are easily understood and will either initiate the lay reader into some of the valuable ways mathematics is used or remind professionals just how valuable their field is to society.” (Charles Ashbacher, MAA Reviews, November, 2010)

“Crato’s presentation is to examine how problems, some challenging and of great importance and some of minor consequence yet thought provoking, have been resolved over the centuries. … Impressively, the essays never get bogged down with complicated mathematical formulae, yet they still provide sufficient detail of the human endeavor and mathematical underpinnings involved, allowing the book to be of interest to both the layperson and the advanced expert. Overall, the stories are amusing, intriguing, insightful, entertaining, and thoroughly enjoyable. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries.” (N. W. Schillow, Choice, Vol. 48 (9), May, 2011)

“The present book is about the power and beauty of mathematics. … Nuno Crato … explains things in a way that everybody can follow. Therefore, the book is also directed at school pupils and can inspire teachers. … You can learn interesting details about the life and the research of famous astronomers, mathematicians, engineers and computer scientists … . It is a wonderful book that can help to popularize mathematics and can demonstrate the importance of mathematics in our everyday life.” (Werner H. Schmidt, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1219, 2011)