Mind Tools: The Five Levels of Mathematical Reality

This reader-friendly volume groups the patterns of mathematics into five archetypes: numbers, space, logic, infinity, and information. Rudy Rucker presents an accessible introduction to each of these important areas, reflecting intelligence gathered from the frontiers of mathematical thought. More than 100 drawings illuminate explorations of digital versus analog processes, logic as a computing tool, communication as information transmission, and other "mind tools.""Mind Tools is an original and fascinating look at various aspects of mathematics that is sure to fascinate the nonmathematician." - Isaac Asimov "A lighthearted romp through contemporary mathematics. . . . Mind Tools is a delight." - San Francisco Chronicle"For those who gave up college mathematics for what seemed more liberal arts, Rudy Rucker's book, Mind Tools, is a dazzling refresher course. . . . He rekindles the wonder that can come from contemplating logarithms, exponential curves and transcendental numbers." - The New York Times Book Review"One of Rucker's greatest assets is his ability to make complexities comprehensible to the general reader without lecturing." - The Washington Post"Approaching all of mathematics, and everything else, by way of information theory, Dr. Rucker's latest and most exciting book opens vistas of dazzling beauty - scenes that blend order with chaos, reality with fantasy, that startle you with their depths of impenetrable mystery." - Martin Gardner