The Parrot's Theorem

by Denis Guedj

Book Overview

Mr. Ruche, a Parisian bookseller, receives a bequest from a long lost friend in the Amazon of a vast library of math books, which propels him into a great exploration of the story of mathematics. Meanwhile Max, whose family lives with Mr. Ruche, takes in a voluble parrot who will discuss math with anyone. When Mr. Ruche learns of his friend's mysterious death in a Brazilian rainforest, he decides that with the parrot's help he will use these books...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312280556
• ISBN13: 9780312280550
• Release Date: September 2001
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 344 Pages
• Weight: 1.22 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.9" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Polly wants some Maths?

Excellent, fun tale enriching you with great history & quotes related to Mathematicians. You'll love it!

Pythagoras to Parrots!

This is an interesting story for anyone interested in the history of math, and indeed, western culture. An intriguing story, and a story of intrigue, we go from Paris to Manaus and elsewhere, always with a mathematical connection. The math is fun and interesting in the context of the central part of the story, the old friend who sent all of his math books, and a complicated secret, to Paris, where a family took on the task of deciphering the complex riddle. While the English translation has some strange ways of saying things (maths instead of math), the interested reader easily gets used to that, enthusiastically following the tale. One minor detail - the bird on the book is not the same species as the bird IN the book. The cover bird is a Scarlet Macaw, while the bird IN the story is a Blue-fronted Parrot.

A wonderful book about Maths for everyone. Not to be missed!

What a book! The story is fascinating, the characters are unusual and it is very well written! Every single page I went through was a delight .The book creates a comfort and nice atmosphere for those who hate maths. It is an adventure that makes you keep your attention to the very end. I strongly recommend this book for all Maths lovers, students, and those who have difficulties with the subject since it might open their minds to a new and enchanting world!

Huzzah!

I was so delighted to see that The Parrot's Theorem is now available in the US -- I read it in French, and special ordered it in English for a friend. This is a fascinating book, and a painless way for a non-math person to learn a great deal about mathematics and its development through the years. A real keeper!

A great book for clever readers

A great book...not a mathematical book but an historical novel...About the history of mathematics. Through the story of a real strange family in a bookstore right in the centre of Paris, you will follow their steps to try to solve the mystery of a murder in the other side of earth (Manaus, Brazil). Their only help is a great collection of over than 1000 books about mathematics. They are far away from the place of murder and they try hard to solve the mystery. You will laugh with them, cry with them...but the most important...you will learn from them. A great book for everyone... A real masterpiece, a piece of art for the friends of mathematics. P.S. You will also find out that the first real mathematics (theories, problems etc) starts thousands years ago in GREECE... (where everything starts...)