Here is the classic, much-read introduction to the craft and
history of mathematics by E.T. Bell, a leading figure in mathematics in
America for half a century. Men of Mathematics accessibly
explains the major mathematics, from the geometry of the Greeks through
Newton's calculus and on to the laws of probability, symbolic logic, and
the fourth dimension. In addition, the book goes beyond pure
mathematics to present a series of engrossing biographies of the great
mathematicians -- an extraordinary number of whom lived bizarre or
unusual lives. Finally, Men of Mathematics is also a history of
ideas, tracing the majestic development of mathematical thought from
ancient times to the twentieth century. This enduring work's clear,
often humorous way of dealing with complex ideas makes it an ideal book
for the non-mathematician.