Mathematics Gleeson Gleanings

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Oct 30, 2025, 10:03 AM

Here is a sample of mathematics-related books that are new to Gleeson Library. To view additional titles, see New Mathematics Books on the library website. Nik, the Maya Zero: The Mathematics, Culture, and Philosophy of Maya Numerals “Nik, the Maya zero”—with an introduction by USF professor Aparna Venkatesan—explores the mathematical and astronomical knowledge of Maya culture through an English translation of José Mucía Batz Lem’s work. The book delves into the Maya concept of time and their unique interpretation of zero as a foundational point for numbers. It highlights the symbolic representation of time in Maya culture and presents zero not as “nothing,” but as the origin of positive and negative numbers.

This translation aims to make Maya mathematical insights more accessible to a broader audience while preserving the original text’s conversational nature and exploring the philosophical implications of Maya numerals. Beautiful Math: The Surprisingly Simple Ideas Behind the Digital Revolution in How We Live, Work, and Communicate “Beautiful Math” by Chris Bernhardt explores the mathematical foundations of the digital age. The book covers four main themes: information, communication, computation, and learning. Bernhardt uses simple mathematical models to reveal deep connections between seemingly unrelated concepts, explaining key ideas like information theory, digital-analog conversion, algorithms, and neural networks. The author aims to present these complex topics with minimal mathematics, making them accessible to a wide audience.

Historical anecdotes provide context for technological developments. The book offers readers, regardless of their mathematical background, an engaging journey through the mathematical principles underlying our digital world. This selection of mathematics books covers topics like Maya numerals, Emmy Noether’s legacy, cryptography, trigonometry, and vectors’ impact on science. It also explores math’s role in the digital age, statistics in daily life, mathematical history, and socially just education. Each book offers accessible insights into math’s cultural, scientific, and practical significance. Continue reading 10 New Books in Mathematics

New mathematics books include “Mathematical Intelligence,” which emphasizes human creativity over machines, and “Probably Overthinking It,” a guide to data-driven decision-making. Other notable titles explore historical contributions to math, its cultural impact, and advances in fields like topology and chaos theory, offering diverse insights into mathematics. Continue reading Ten New Books in Mathematics Check out Gleeson Library’s oldest example of printing from moveable type: a leaf from the Gutenberg Bible, now in digital collections. Continue reading Our Noble Fragment: Gleeson Library’s Gutenberg Bible Leaf Goes Digital Interest in Graphic Novels for Critical Scholarship is growing amongst students as well as faculty, yet many patrons are not aware of the Graphic Novels in the Gleeson Library collection.

A new Library Guide serves as an introductory bridge to familiarity with the many subgenres of graphic novels, its role in increasing representation amongst historically … Continue reading A New Guide to Graphic Novels... Celebrate Latine Heritage Month by exploring the sights, sounds, and energy of San Francisco’s 1970/80s Latine arts scene in the Casa Hispana de Bellas Artes digital collection. Continue reading Posters, Programs, and Pachuco Beats: San Francisco’s Latine Heritage in the Archives An overview of accessing Gleeson Library’s e-resources: featuring Latiné/x Heritage Month. Continue reading Discover Gleeson’s E-resources: featuring Latiné/x Heritage Month Take a look at the Special Collections & University Archives (SCUA) department and their student internships this past Spring!

Continue reading Highlighting the SCUA Spring Internship Program Gleeson Library’s new physics and astronomy books cover a wide range of topics, including the nature of space and matter, cosmic discoveries, quantum mechanics, and influential scientists. Highlights include explorations of the James Webb Telescope, Roger Penrose’s biography, Henrietta Leavitt’s contributions, and quantum entanglement, offering both accessible insights and advanced scientific discussions. Continue reading 10 New Books in Physics & Astronomy This selection of mathematics books covers topics like Maya numerals, Emmy Noether’s legacy, cryptography, trigonometry, and vectors’ impact on science. It also explores math’s role in the digital age, statistics in daily life, mathematical history, and socially just education.

Each book offers accessible insights into math’s cultural, scientific, and practical significance. Continue reading 10 New Books in Mathematics Gleeson Library’s new kinesiology books cover diverse topics, including mental health in women’s sports, adaptive sports for disabilities, transgender inclusion, and masculinity in fitness culture. Highlights include Katie Ledecky’s memoir, Bill Cartwright’s leadership journey, roller derby history, and updated physical education standards, offering valuable insights into sports, wellness, and inclusivity. Continue reading 10 New Books in Kinesiology This selection of new engineering books at Gleeson Library covers diverse topics, including technological innovation, engineering ethics, Archimedes’ legacy, civil engineering management, AI’s societal impact, reinforced concrete’s history, the electrical grid, renewable energy systems,...

These resources offer insights into technical advancements, ethical practices, historical contributions, and modern infrastructure challenges. Continue reading 10 New Books in Engineering Gleeson Library’s new data science books cover diverse topics, including ethical AI, practical machine learning, and statistical analysis. They explore frameworks for analyzing complex data, responsible practices in AI, and the intersection of data with social justice. These resources blend theory and application, offering insights for professionals, students, and activists. Continue reading 10 New Books in Data Science

Mathematics is both a science and an art. Like any great art, mathematics has an intrinsic beauty and coherence that has attracted practitioners for centuries. Yet, unlike other arts, mathematics is a surprisingly effective tool for describing the natural world. Indeed, mathematics has come to serve as the foundation of modern science, through its language and results. Some mathematical results were initially developed in order to solve internally generated mathematical problems and only later found application in other disciplines; other mathematical results were inspired by the needs of these other disciplines. The two facets of mathematics - tool of science and subject of inquiry for its own sake - have come to be interwoven into a complex fabric.

The Department of Mathematics offers four credentials designed to meet the needs of students interested in the foundations of mathematics. Credentials promote competence in abstract thinking, logical rigor, analysis, expository clarity, and critical writing. Mathematics is both a science and an art. Like any great art, mathematics has an intrinsic beauty and coherence that has attracted practitioners for centuries. Yet, unlike other arts, math is a surprisingly effective tool for describing the natural world. Math has come to serve as the foundation of modern science, through its language and results.

Some mathematical results were initially developed in order to solve internally generated mathematical problems and only later found application in other disciplines; other mathematical results were inspired by the needs of these other disciplines. The two facets of mathematics - tool of science and subject of inquiry for its own sake - have come to be interwoven into a complex fabric. Admission to all programs is capacity constrained. Completion of minimum requirements described below does not guarantee admission. All applicants have the right to petition and appeal the department's admission decision. The application and additional information are available at the department website.

Applicants are considered in two groups - Currently Enrolled UW Students and Entering Transfers. Transfer student admission is capacity constrained. Inquiry-based and student-centered, Bridges focuses on developing mathematical reasoning while creating an inclusive and equitable learning community for all students. Sorry, your browser doesn't support embedded videos. In a Bridges classroom, students gather evidence, explain their results, and develop respect for others’ opinions. Teachers encourage students to employ multiple strategies when solving problems.

They foster student initiative by providing opportunities to work in pairs, discuss in small groups, or share with the whole class. As a result, students develop positive math identities while building problem-solving skills, conceptual understanding, and procedural fluency. Bridges Third Edition brings focus to representation, provides guidance for creating an inclusive learning environment, and includes revised tasks that support equity. Bridges utilizes visual models that build on one another across grade levels. These materials and manipulatives let students represent and interpret numbers, shapes, and patterns—and make sense of mathematics. Here is a sample of mathematics-related books that are new to Gleeson Library.

To view additional titles, see New Mathematics Books on the library website. Mathematical Intelligence: A Story of Human Superiority over Machines In “Mathematical Intelligence,” Junaid Mubeen challenges the notion that machines will surpass human intelligence. He argues that mathematics, often misunderstood and poorly taught, gives humans a creative edge over computers. Mubeen identifies seven areas where human mathematical abilities excel, including our innate sense of numerical approximation, capacity for abstraction and language, logical reasoning skills, and ability to question and imagine beyond conventional rules. While computers excel at calculations and pattern recognition, Mubeen contends that human mathematical thinking offers a unique blend of creativity, reasoning, and intuition that machines cannot replicate, positioning mathematics as a crucial tool for... Probably Overthinking It: How to Use Data to Answer Questions, Avoid Statistical Traps, and Make Better Decisions “Probably Overthinking It” by Allen B.

Downey is a concise guide to statistical thinking for everyone. Using real-world examples from various fields, Downey illustrates how data can improve decision-making and highlights common pitfalls in statistical interpretation. The book emphasizes the importance of correct data analysis in areas such as healthcare, policy-making, and social justice. Through data visualizations and accessible explanations, Downey builds readers’ understanding of statistical concepts, enabling them to recognize errors in their own thinking and media reports. This book offers valuable insights for both statistics novices and those seeking to refresh their knowledge. What’s Happening in the Mathematical Sciences The What’s Happening in the Mathematical Sciences series explores recent mathematical discoveries in an accessible manner.

The 2023 volume covers topics like artificial intelligence, with “Deep Learning: Part Math, Part Alchemy” examining machine learning advances. “Organizing the Chaos Inside the Brain” applies chaos theory to animal brain simulations. Pure math enthusiasts will enjoy chapters on tiling, sphere-packing, and multi-view geometry. “How to Draw an Alternate Universe” delves into non-Euclidean geometry, while “How Mathematicians Unearthed the Stubborn Secrets of Fano Varieties” explores algebraic geometry. Other topics include prime numbers without a “7” and fluid singularities, linking back to machine learning. The Secret Lives of Numbers: A Hidden History of Math’s Unsung Trailblazers “The Secret Lives of Numbers” by Kate Kitagawa and Timothy Revell reframes mathematics’ history, highlighting overlooked contributors across six continents and millennia.

The book challenges the Eurocentric narrative, showcasing diverse mathematicians like Hypatia, Karen Uhlenbeck, and scholars from the “House of Wisdom.” It explores groundbreaking work by Madhava of Sangamagrama and Black mathematicians during the Civil... This comprehensive narrative spans thousands of years and various mathematical disciplines, offering a fresh perspective on the global development of mathematics and its unsung heroes. Learn more about Egan Walker’s Spring 2025 intern project working with John DePol prints in Gleeson Library’s Donohue Rare Book Room. Continue reading A Spring with John DePol Honors College class collaborated on a display titled Gender Warriors: Hidden Histories. There will be a celebration of their work and a chance to talk to the students about their research on May 9th from 2-4 in the Thacher Gallery.

Mathematics Gleeson Gleanings

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