That Love/Hated Subject

If there is one subject that evokes strong feelings for any student, it is Mathematics. Simply uttering the word ‘Maths’ is enough for someone to claim that they love the subject or more often, how much they hated Maths in school. But irrespective of one’s attitude towards Maths, Tales from The History of Mathematics by Archana Sarat is a book that will appeal to readers of all ages and preferences. One can even go as far to say that it might renew an interest in Maths for someone who has given up hope.

‘We are all mathematicians’, declares the author in the introduction and she goes on to prove this sentiment in the myriad stories that follow. The book is a compilation of short stories that run a fine line between fiction and non-fiction. Some stories talk about fictional characters, but they are placed in historical settings like the Indus Valley Civilization or Sparta of ancient Greece, which gives a very authentic look. Some stories are folk tales, while some describe the lives of notable mathematicians like Euclid and Pythagoras. The sheer variety of these tales makes for a very informative and entertaining read.

To think that Sarat’s book is limited to Mathematics would be a mistake. As the title suggests, there is another subject deeply integrated within this book, History. Most tales are supplemented by an explanatory ‘Know More’ section outlining the factual premise of the chapter. Here, the author explains how Maths was being used in ancient times and how it has developed by giving the background of the tale, the extent of fictionalization, the tools of use and other historical details. The author takes the reader around the world with stories panning Swaziland in Africa, ancient Mesopotamia in Western Asia, the Inca civilization of South America, ancient Greece, Arabia and of course, the source of various significant mathematical discoveries, ancient India.