Eugenia Loh-Gene Cheng is a British mathematician who specializes in a fringe area of mathematics referred to as Higher-Dimensional Category Theory. She is also known for her support of popular mathematics. Among her many publications are The Art of Logic and, my personal favorite, Beyond Infinity. Professor Cheng attended school at Roedean and is a graduate of The University of Cambridge with her Thesis: Higher-dimensional category theory: opetopic foundations (2002). She graduated with both a BA and a PhD.
Who is the target audience?
This book could appeal to anyone; perhaps with the exception of those traumatized by ill intentioned or professionally inept math teachers. Eugenia has taken the everyday practice of baking and uses it as frame to hang mathematical theories on, to make the mathematics more accessible to a wider audience, and to simplify the theory for the common man. These theories are not new concepts, however, they may be fresh concepts to you. It is a skillfully woven discourse with Category Theory at its heart. Of course there may be some people who will not understand the basic concepts, but I believe the majority of people who read this book will learn something that may benefit them.
In this book
Having read How to Bake Pi, I’ve noted the Professor is a skilled and gifted educator. She takes the art of teaching mathematics to a whole new level. Her ability to enlighten the audience is due in part to her: familiarity with her subject, and her varied methods to demystify the subject; while simultaneously encouraging an enthusiasm for math that most people never knew they had.
I enjoyed the humor and the lucidity of her delivery. The mathematical logic is there throughout the text, but it is softened through: clear, lucid, and work-a-day explanations that aid the reader in exploring the world of math.
Conclusion
I found this book to be engaging, warm, effusive, and fun. Ultimately, Eugenia has proven that it isn’t what you teach, but how you teach that makes the difference.
Audiobooks have a great utility in that they are a wonderful tool for relaxation, as well as a means of enjoying even more literature.
I hope you will check out our Litercurious Audiobook Reviews often. There is at least one new review per week. Get recommendations and news on discounts and more. Learn about your favorite author and discuss your favorite titles with people like you. Once a month we have a give-away so keep checking in to have the opportunity to win.
Gary Martin
Dobbs may not be familiar to you; however, Gary has a long track record of writing
books, starting when he was just 15 years old. Mr. Dobbs also writes under the
pen name of Jack Martin; perhaps some of you have read his western novels and
crime fictions. If you enjoy the Western Genre, you can find more on his work
at The Fantastic Fiction site.
A couple of his notable crime fiction novels include: Granny Smith, and Deadly
Frogs. He also has an online blog where you can find out more about the author
and see some of the book reviews he’s written. Not only is he an accomplished
author, but he is an actor as well; more information can be found on IMDB
(International Movie Database). He comes across as a very personable and
engaging character which makes reading A Date With The Hangman more like a talk
with a friend, rather than a cold retelling of horror. I enjoyed how concisely
Gary recounted ancient traditions, methods of executions, and the slow
integration of newer technologies for killing. I consider myself well-read when
it comes to the subject of true crime; but I still learned new details, facts, and
other information from A Date With The Hangman that were overlooked in similar
books.
The Target Audience
You will
enjoy this book if you’re interested in: true crime, history, non-fiction, or
if you are an avid consumer of literature that has: macabre themes, strong
adult content, detailed descriptions of death, murder, and Judicial executions.
Whilst the subject matter is gritty, the author Gary Dobbs manages to engage
the readers interest immediately. A Date With The Hangman is one of those books
you will quickly know if it appeals to you, and if it does you are in for an engrossing
sojourn.
My Synopsis
A Date With The
Hangman could be considered a primer for anyone who wants to understand the
context, methods, and atmosphere of historic Judicial executions. The book
begins by introducing the contextual factors upon which to build an understanding
of ancient crime and punishment. The central theme of the book is the nature,
methods, reputations, and the personal history of some of England’s most
notorious hangmen. The descriptions of some of the executions are so detailed
that you can imagine standing there and witnessing the event yourself.
Once the
vivid descriptions of the executions are complete, we are provided with a
plethora of small paragraphs detailing briefly the date of execution, name and
age of the offender, the name and age of the victim (if available), their
conviction, where the execution took place, and their executioner. Portions of
the book are referenced to a tedious degree yet leaves no doubt as to the
authenticity of the material used. Toward the end of the book, I was very pleased
to see that Gary had included the intensity to which the ethics of execution
became a political hot potato. He describes the years leading up to the
termination of Capital Punishment in the late 20th Century, as society became
disillusioned with the execution of people that were later found to be innocent.
Conclusion
This book is
well written, with good prose, and produced in an uncomplicated but concise
manner from an author who researched his subject. The subject matter is
gripping, sometimes terrifying, but most of all educating.
HOT NEW UPDATE
Gary Dobbs will
soon be releasing another in the long line of books called: The Reluctant Terrorist, part
of the successful Granny Smith Series. Available at the time of writing on KindleUnlimited – Read for
free.
Why not
pre-order yours and get to the front of the line. Pen & Sword Ltd., are
offering a special price for: A Date With The Hangman,
ending soon.
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