Keywords
Citation
Howard, W.R. (2007), "Maths for the Mystified", Kybernetes, Vol. 36 No. 5/6, pp. 826-827. https://doi.org/10.1108/03684920710749901
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
De‐mystifying mathematics is an enormous challenge to any author. Michael de Smith does however tackle it to some purpose. From the outset it appears: to be a text aimed at students from the sciences and social sciences. It is not clear whether these students have taken any previous courses in mathematics or if they have, to what standard they have reached. We would expect readers of this book to have at least studied the basics so that they are better equipped to understand the author's gallant attempts at making matters much clearer. Is it a “refresher course”? – Is it a study that aims to fill the gaps in the reader's understanding of mathematics? Or does it hope to inspire those who believe they have already failed to grasp what mathematics is all about?
The result is a book that attempts to do all these things. It provides introductions to numerous topics and provides a background to many mathematical initiatives and developments. All of these sections have been written in an interesting and well‐presented, way. It is true, of course, that a book of this size facing the enormity of the subject can only hope to stimulate the reader to further study. Choosing the right topics and giving the necessary applications that will fascinate, as well as inform has to be the prime concern.
The book does provide much that is of value to students who follow courses in computing and cybernetics as well as systems. Often such students are not mathematically inclined or qualified to pursue these courses but still persist in believing that they can make progress without being conversant with the basics of mathematics. The same is, unfortunately, true of some researchers in these fields who still avoid anything mathematical. This book could well interest them because it includes the most important basics. After all, mathematics is an international language and proficiency in it is essential. What the author provides is of great interest and should spur the book's readers to want to study the subject to an even greater depth.