Math Charmers: Tantalizing Tidbits for the Mind

Rating:
Summary: A nicely done book on math factoids and problem solving
Review: *Math Charmers* is a nicely done book dealing with various facts about mathematics. I want to emphasize that these facts are presented in a problem-solving format (i.e., a question is posed and the solution is provided). The best way to learn about math is to solve problems, thus Posamentier's format works well in striving toward his stated goal.

Posamentier has written several excellent books on math education that, like this book, emphasizes the problem-solving approach. *Math Charmers* is his foray (I think) into the 'pop-math' genre and I think he did a fine job here.

I wanted to briefly address the one negative review thus far: Yes, it does have some sections that can be found elsewhere, but anyone can say that about any other pop-math book. So that sort of criticism in it of itself is hardly a useful (or original, ironically) observation. The real issue is whether *Math Charmers* provides any new ideas and insights as well as handling the old favorites in a useful manner. This book suceeds on both counts.

Rating:
Summary: I'm Charmed
Review: Math has never been my strongest subject, but this book makes it absolutely fascinating! Posamentier is engaging and delightfully charms his readers with wonderful math puzzles. This book taught me more about math than I ever expected to learn. Quite the introduction to beauty and excitement of math!

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant and Entertaining!
Review: One of the best books on math ever written! Posamentier deserves high praise for creating such an entertaining and illuminating book that made math understandable and fun for me. I know a lot of people who would benefit from this book. I hope he writes more books!

Rating:
Summary: Math Charmers:Tantalizing Tidbits for the Mind
Review: This is an outstanding book for the reader who would like to give himself a chance to really appreciate mathematics for the beauty that may not have been experienced at first encounter. The book is really entertaining and has many topics that left me with a one word reaction: WOW! I would highly recommend this book to anyone willing to appreciate mathematics, especially those who feared it in the past. It has many small but truly delightful topics that really entertained me. Frankly, I didn't want to put the book down once I got into it.