Focusing YourAttention We have called this book Mathematical Vistas because we have already published a companion book MathematicalRefiections in the same series;1 indeed, the two books are dedicated to the same principal purpose - to stimulate the interest ofbrightpeople in mathematics.Itis not our intention in writing this book to make the earlier book aprerequisite, but it is, of course, natural that this book should contain several references to its predecessor. This is especially - but not uniquely- true of Chapters 3, 4, and 6, which may be regarded as advanced versions of the corresponding chapters in Mathematical Reflections. Like its predecessor, the present work consists of nine chapters, each devoted to a lively mathematical topic, and each capable, in principle, of being read independently of the other chapters.' Thus this is not a text which- as is the intention of most standard treatments of mathematical topics - builds systematically on certain common themes as oneproceeds 1Mathematical Reflections - In a Room with Many Mirrors, Springer Undergraduate Texts in Math ematics, 1996; Second Printing 1998. We will refer to this simply as MR. 2There was an exception in MR; Chapter 9 was concerned with our thoughts on the doing and teaching of mathematics at the undergraduate level.
From the reviews: MAA ONLINE "...much of the material is about the authors... own research. This is a positive thing; its good for students at all levels to get information straight from the horse's mouth, not only for accuracy but also for enthusiasm and authenticity. The authors put their writing where their talents are, and students get to see just how alive mathematics is...there is much to comment the book. It contains plenty of interesting mathematics, often going in unusual directions. I like the diagrams; the authors have chosen mathematics that involves especially pretty ones. And readers with some mathematical experience are sure to find things here and there that will delight them. In elementary school, before first-year algebra had made me conscious of being a mathematician, I called my favorite pastime ...number tricks.... The section ...A Number Trick and its Explanations... brought back fond memories."