Great overview of the concepts of science, explained clearly with many useful and easy to understand examples. One you should have on your shelves for reference.

At $...I couldn't go wrong: as it turns out I went very right.
I just found a very rare picture
of an astronomical plasma jet from an elliptical galaxy as a picture in it.
In every way this book delivers what it says it will.
If you can find it, buy it.
Or any other book by Motz on Astronomy!

This is a well-written and interesting book on the history of astronomy. The book is divided into 18 chapters, each of which makes a comfortable evening's reading. Another plus is the general quality of the book's construction, most notably its sturdy cover and binding and thicker than average paper. This is a book that will last a long time. The only downside is that it appears that Amazon does not offer a discount to the book's list price. I have also bought The Story of Mathematics by the same authors. I am about half way finished with that book and have enjoyed it very much, although not as much as Astronomy. I plan to also buy their Story of Physics when I am finished with Mathematics.

This book is for the person longing for real concepts and deep understanding about physics with ease and without mathematical scatters(!),

and more for he who wants the deep meaning of far more advanced mathematics, eg. hamitonian, lagangian,,,,etc (in fact, I lost this book, So I 'll buy it again!)

This book provides a good sense of the scope of mathematics and particularly how the development of mathematics and physics converge and diverge. However, the book is frustrating at times. Sometimes the book focuses on the history of an idea and sometimes it focuses on the chronology of events. There's a backwards-forwards motion in the book that I did not like. I read it closely but still found it hard to keep my bearing. Many books that try to provide an historical overview suffer from this, so I gave this book a four. There is definitely good content here. As a "read", I'd give it a three.

I love this book. I learn from story telling. I understand any subject matter better if I know its history, culture and reason for existence. The story of mathematics is such book. It helps me to overcome math anxiety and make the subject, dare I say it, cool. Read it and rid your math phobia forever.

A wonderful inquiry into the evolution of mathematics from the counting needs of yesterday to the position of advanced tool in any and every subject of human enterprise. This book brings out fascinating insights into how we have come to inherit the mathematics ...from the masters who have lived before .. It also illustrates in a subtle manner that we are lucky to live in an age where mathematics learning and teaching has become extermely organised... The stories of the individuals who have contrubuted to this subject should spur anyone to greater good..Beg borrow or steal ..but read this book

An excerpt from the preface: "...it is not a textbook full of long, boring proofs and hundreds of problems, rather it is an intellectual adventure, to be read with pleasure. It was written to be easily accessible and with concern for the mental tranquility of the reader who will experience considerable fulfillment when he/she sees the simplicity of basic mathematics. The emphasis throughout the book is on the clear explanation of mathematics concepts."

I have to say that the promises in the excerpt above are gracefully delivered. This is such a great book in it's scope. But it is completely missing graphic illustrations - you know, diagrams, figures, pictures, etc.. It could be the absolute best book hands down, if it just had illustrations in each chapter. Otherwise beautifully written. So, I can't give it five stars. A second edition with graphic illustrations would be awesome! You should know that there are no problem-solution exercises in the book but many good examples and applications are discussed. This book is very friendly and un-assuming. Kudos to the Authors!!!

OK, the chapters are as follows:

1. The Number System 2. Irrational Numbers, Imaginary Numbers, and Other Curiosities 3. From Arithmetic to Algebra 4. Graphic Algebra 5. The Geometry of Straight Line Figures 6. The Geometry of the Circle and Trigonometry 7. Analytic Geometry 8. The Calculus and Mathematics in Science Epilogue

I loved it! Enjoy...