Paradoxes: Guiding Forces in Mathematical Exploration

From simple classifications to detailed explanations behind paradoxes in all fields of mathematics - geometry, calculus, statistics and infinity - this novel has something for everyone. Impressively balancing the line between breadth and depth of content, it is a must-read for anyone who has any semblance of interest in numbers. Hamza makes a compelling case for mathematical paradoxes to become an essential part of any education system, a sentiment that I, as a high school graduate would have deeply appreciated. Had students been introduced to calculus using Zeno’s paradoxes, mensuration using Gabriel’s horn or statistics using Simpson’s paradox rather than diving straight into the mere numerics, perhaps maths wouldn’t be as unjustifiably hated a subject as it is now. Hopefully, the future has such changes in store! For any reader considering giving this novel a read, I must honestly warn you that it requires an immense amount of focus and concentration. While a base level of education in maths helps in comprehension, at times, complicated concepts and mathematicians’ names are thrown at you repeatedly without much elaboration, requiring you to constantly read some parts again and again to absorb all the information. I would have preferred better explanations at some points, even if it made for a longer read. Moreover, there was a lack of structure/important links at crucial moments, driving the point home a little less powerfully than it had the potential for. Several reads reinforce the profoundness/absurdity of some of the more complicated paradoxes but that clarity at some points was definitely missing. Personally, the chapter on infinity was my absolute favourite, as I found that to be the most mind-boggling and profound segment of the novel. However, the usefulness and application of the others must not be ignored - the statistics chapter is a great reminder that much of the “data/facts” we consume are incredibly prone to manipulation while the chapter on geometrical paradoxes served as a discussion on a topic far more intuitive as the rest as we can see physical shapes/figures on a day to day basis. Overall, an educational and insightful read, Paradoxes is a novel I would recommend to anyone even remotely academic, no matter their field of study, whether philosophy, mathematics, science or even the humanities. - Oishee Banerjee

Paradoxes is a masterpiece. It covers advanced topics in mathematics, yet anyone (even the less experienced in mathematics) can understand the content and learn a ton from it. That's the first time in my life that I read a book in just 1 day. The book got me into ancient greek mathematics where the whole subject started and the way they thought about numbers. The writer has done a great job guiding the reader through the ages of mathematics and its impact on society. I can't wait for his next book! Great job!

The 'paradox' is only a conflict between reality and your feeling of what reality 'ought to be', quoted by Richard Feynman, a theoretical physicist. Even though the book delves into mathematical paradoxes, this seems pertinent here. Describing significant paradoxes that baffled countless mathematicians from the time arithmetic saw the light, the book perfectly delves into the mysteries of fundamentals. Paradoxes, written from the perspective of a curious learner, targets the math heads out there. The author has managed to describe the paradoxes in a chronological order, which makes it more clear to understand and also in an elegant way. The book becomes most exciting when the reader stops after each paradox and think about it. The book made me question the fundamentals of my knowledge and helped me get a great insight into the subject. Clear and simple writing makes it lucid even for high school students. The author has underscored the traits of infinity. The book makes us wonder about the authenticity of the rudiments while parallelly providing a mind-blowing experience