Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

When I was in college I majored in mathematics, and calculus wasn’t as big a challenge to me as it is for others (statistics, however, is another matter entirely). Calculus was the backbone of my major and it was foundational when it came to most of the other courses I took, and this included advanced algebra and more abstract mathematics. Now, that said, in many cases I understood the “how” but not the “why”. In a few cases, I saw some parallels with algebra and how calculus could short-cut certain processes (sort of) to arrive at the same result, but even so, the subject remained a black art even though it was clear [to me] what to do. What this book does is explain some of the why. It’s not a dry, dull read that throws theorems and formulas at you with brief explanations. Instead, there are real-world examples that show why calculus is the means to the end. Instead of gagging you with straight theory and practice like a class textbook, it brings calculus down to a level that makes it much more interesting and, in a tangible way, fun. Now, it does not offer comprehensive coverage, of course; my calculus textbook from college is a full 1,000 pages and covers a lot of more obscure stuff that this book doesn’t mention, but that’s not this book’s intention. The idea here is to give a more high-level coverage with application. I sure wish I had this book when I was struggling with the subject; knowing the “why” makes the “how” a lot easier to work through. I’m still working my way through this book, but so far it has been very enjoyable and thought provoking. What I have read so far has made the subject of calculus a lot more interesting, even though I already have a handle on the mechanics of it. If you have struggled with calculus, this book is a way to build more understanding and appreciation. If you’re more curious and just want to know what it’s about, it’s a good starting point.