Who says Mathematics can’t be fun? Though not all like to study the subject of numbers, the authors of Weird Maths, David Darling and Agnijo Banerjee will change your thoughts about the subject for sure!
We had a great time talking with the authors. Below is the excerpt from the interview.
Questions to David Darling:
1. What was your first reaction when Agnijo came up with the idea of the book?
The idea for the book was mine. I first suggested it to Agnijo when he was about 15 and he was very enthusiastic.
2. Do you think this book can help people understand the reality of Maths as an integral part of our life?
We certainly hope so. Our goal from the outset was to show the lay reader that not only is maths fun but that it penetrates every aspect of our lives, from everyday situations to the most profound aspects of nature.
3. Did you draw any new conclusions/theorems/postulates in the field of Science and Maths other the known ones while authoring the book?
We didn’t start out with the idea of presenting original theories of our ownbut, instead, explaining in new ways what was already out there. In the chapters on the fourth dimension and large numbers, for example, I think we found original ways of getting across some quite tricky concepts.
Get your copy of Weird Maths here: Amazon
4. Did this young prodigy, Agnijo, influence you with his enthusiasm?
Yes – and, hopefully, the exchange of enthusiasm has worked both ways!
5. Whom do you recommend this book to read?
Everyone – both those who are already enthusiastic and knowledgeable about maths and those who want to learn about how exciting and important maths can be.
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Rapid Fire (one word/one sentence)
- Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Both!
- What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel?
Not sure I have an under-appreciated one, but I like science fiction.
- How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
One, for which I’m developing a proposal.
- What’s the best way to market your books?
Via the publisher – supporting them with good information to begin with and then following up on all the events/interviews that they set up. I also promote the books via my social media channels and website (www.daviddarling.info).
- How many hours a day do you write?
No more than three. After that my creativity is exhausted.
- Do you Google yourself?
No.
- What are your favorite literary journals?
I don’t tend to read journals.
- What is your favorite childhood book?
Wind in the Willows.
Also Read: Hippie by Paulo Coelho
Questions to Agnijo Banerjee:
1. When did you realize this magic and mystery in the world of Maths?
I realized the wonder in mathematics from a very early age. Ever since early primary school, I have realized that mathematics seems to come naturally to me and I was a huge fan of Ian Stewart’s books on mathematics (indeed, it was an amazing experience to find out that my childhood idol had endorsed Weird Maths).
2. What did want to tell the world through this book?
There are several things that I wanted to tell the world with this book. One is that mathematics goes far beyond what you learn in school, with many interesting topics that most people never hear of, and another is that one should not be afraid of maths like people often are and like how maths is often depicted.
3. What kind of research have you done while writing?
I did quite a lot of research, some online and some from reading maths books. Mostly I had to ensure that all of the mathematical facts were correct and there were no errors introduced when the explanations were simplified.
4. What made you choose David as a co-author?
I had first met David as a tutor when school maths was no longer challenging enough. We soon ended up discussing various topics in-depth and then we decided to set up a maths website. After that, we decided to write our book.
5. While co-authoring, did you have intellectual debates and arguments? How did they help you?
We had many intellectual discussions and debates while writing, which helped a lot. One of the main issues was ensuring that the explanations given were understandable to the intended audience, and we had to have these discussions in order to generate some explanation that was both simple enough and without any errors.
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