Steven Strogatz 2 Book Set The Joy of X and Infinite Powers The Story of Calculus

Steven Strogatz’s two-book set brings together The Joy of X and Infinite Powers: The Story of Calculus, offering an accessible route into major mathematical ideas. Across both titles, the award-winning professor presents mathematics as a subject that reaches far beyond the classroom, connecting with everyday life and wider culture.

In The Joy of X, Strogatz leads a tour of numbers and the concepts behind them, explaining topics from negative numbers to calculus, and from fat tails to infinity, with clarity, wit and insight. Infinite Powers: The Story of Calculus focuses on calculus, described as mathematics’ greatest ever idea, and traces its development across three millennia, from Archimedes to modern breakthroughs in chaos theory and artificial intelligence.

Included titles

• The Joy of X
• Infinite Powers The Story of Calculus

Key details

• Two-book set by Steven Strogatz
• Includes The Joy of X and Infinite Powers The Story of Calculus
• Explores core mathematical ideas, including calculus
• Discusses links between mathematics and everyday life and culture

Synopses

The Joy of X

Maths is presented as something found throughout life, often in places we do not immediately notice. Steven Strogatz guides readers through the great ideas of mathematics, linking numbers to areas such as pop culture, literature, art, philosophy, current affairs and business. Topics range from negative numbers to calculus, and from fat tails to infinity.

Infinite Powers The Story of Calculus

This book tells the story of calculus, described as mathematics’ greatest ever idea. It outlines how calculus underpins developments such as computers, microwave ovens, GPS and space travel, while also recounting centuries of controversy, competition and even death. Steven Strogatz charts its development over three millennia, from Archimedes to modern breakthroughs in chaos theory and artificial intelligence.