The Computer As Crucible

The Computer as Crucible: An Introduction to Experimental Mathematics by Jonathan M. Borwein
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mathematics is that domain of science that is usually thought to be purely of the mind, but increasingly computers are helping mathematicians by identifying sequences, providing insights into complex systems, assisting with proofs and much more. This book gives a small peek into how the machines are, nowadays, been used and how.

Written in a clear style with numerous examples, the book reads easily and quickly and makes frequent references to other publications, often written by one of or both the authors. In addition, each chapter ends with a few exercises, some of which I have found to be rather challenging.

While this is probably not a book you will read to get a good grasp on "computer assisted mathematics", it is an interesting introduction to it.

View all my reviews

"Flatland"

Here is a review by Jean: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/447710813

"Data Mining Tools for Malware Detection"

Here is a review by Jean: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1054850667

R.A. Salvatore's "The Thousand Orcs" (The Hunter's Blades Trilogy)

 Drizzt Do'Urden, Bruenor, Catti-Brie, Wulgar and their friends are back. It all starts with when a Dwarven caravan is attacked by orcs, and when Bruenor, the new King of the freshly liberated Mithral Hall, is almost ousted out of Mirabar. On his way back, he will start a hunt that will end in an epic battle.

R.A. Salvatore writes in a really fluid style, and the story will appeal to all the AD&D fans of the Forgotten Realms.

The Necronomicon: H.P. Lovecraft's best weird tales

I just finished it. It took me a while but I enjoyed every page.

HP Lovecraft is a master in the horror. Not the horror that requires blood by the gallon, but the creeping, crawling horror that sneaks on you. He has a penchant for the smallness of man facing the Universe, and the inability of his mind to cope with what it can't understand.

A word of caution: some of the tales contain text that can be considered racist.

My favorite story: "The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath."