From the reviews of the first edition There are many books on the history ofmathematics in which mathematics is subordinated to history. This is a book inwhich ... » 

From the reviews of the first edition There are many books on the history ofmathematics in which mathematics is subordinated to history. This is a book inwhich history is definitely subordinated to mathematics. It can be described asa collection of critical historical essays dealing with a large variety ofmathematical disciplines and issues and intended for a broad audience. ... weknow of no book on mathematics and its history that covers half as muchnonstandard material. Even when dealing with standard material Stillwellmanages to dramatize it and to make it worth rethinking. In short his book isa splendid addition to the genre of works that build royal roads tomathematical culture for the many. Mathematical Intelligencer Thediscussion is at a deep enough level that I suspect most trained mathematicianswill find much that they do not know as well as good intuitive explanations offamiliar facts. The careful exposition lightness of touch and the absence oftechnicalities should make the book accessible to most senior undergraduates.American Mathematical Monthly TOCThe Theorem of Pythagoras. GreekGeometry. Greek Number Theory. Infinity in Greek Mathematics. Number Theoryin Asia. Polynomial Equations. Analytic Geometry. Projective Geometry.Calculus. Infinite Series. The Revival of Number Theory. EllipticFunctions. Mechanics. Complex Numbers in Algebra. Complex Numbers andCurves. Complex Numbers and Functions. Differential Geometry. NoneuclideanGeometry. Group Theory. Hypercomplex Numbers. Algebraic Number Theory.Topology. Sets Logic and Computation. Bibliography. Index. «