The Secret Diary of Isaac Newton Aged 22 & 4/5ths : The Incomplete and (very) Concise History of Mathematics from the Middle Ages to Present Day

Tony Parker

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Yes - the sequel to "Pythagoras and All That Jazz" has finally arrived!

This time, the book title is dedicated to Sir Isaac Newton and the diary he might have written whilst spending time at his childhood home to escape the ravages of the Black Death.

In the various chapters you will once more discover answers to questions you've always wanted to ask - like who really suggested the existence of 'black holes' and who predicted the 'greenhouse effect' long before the 20th Century?

Who designed the Leaning Tower of Pisa, who invented the parachute and which mathematician foiled Adolf Hitler's dastardly plan to conquer the World?

Who first introduced to the general public a palindromic prime number with 31 digits - including the sign of the devil at its centre?

What are 'Close Encounters of the Eighth Kind' - and how can a pub crawl be planned with the help of a computer program?

After the Middle Ages, there was a quantum leap in levels and applications of maths; the biggest leap of all was the discovery of 'Calculus' - due, in no small part, to the amazing brainpower of the great Sir Isaac.

I have tried to make all mathematical content accessible to the man or woman in the street, though it was indeed a challenge in the case of Calculus!

As in 'Book 1' there are lots of diagrams to help you on your journey and cartoons that hopefully will make you chuckle - drawn this time in more of a 'realism' genre by my good friend – the late Tony Parker.

As 'Masterchef' contestants might inevitably say when they nervously place their creations before those intimidating guest judges - "I've prepared a readable dish of recent historical facts, garnished and liberally sprinkled with humour - enjoy!"

Footnote:

Like all respectable writers I decided that a trilogy was in order - if it's good enough for Tolkien it's good enough for me!

My first two books cover from Creation to Present Day, so there was little scope to continue in the same vein.

Instead I have written a third book entitled "Mathematical Con-Sequences" - eleven short stories with each including a crime planned by a mythological mathematical family that resides in my beloved adopted home town of Corby.

Watch this space……