This dense but short book should probably be in some easily reachable position on the shelf of every academic. citing Max Planck: “truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents… but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.”

With only rare exceptions that betray the fact that this was written over 100 years ago, this inspirational book is a quick read and worth re-reading. Keep it next to the books by Kuhn and Medawar. quote: “The history of civilization proves beyond doubt just how sterile the repeated attempts of metaphysics to guess at nature’s laws have been.”

Super-basic and sort of funny, overflowing with examples.

Easy-reading fiction, explores failures in the arena of understanding perspectives other than our own, and is also somehow about math. The sequels, flatterland and sphereland, continue the drama… It’s hard to believe that society of triangles living in a 2-dimensional world, written over 120 years ago, could be so intriguing…

Everyone loves to hate paradoxes. This is a great little travel book to keep you just involved enough to stay awake on the plane.

If you enjoyed Predictably Irrational, Why Choose this Book, Why Flip a Coin, and The Drunkard’s Walk (which is excellent), read this and also Libet’s Volitional Brain. The other books are more entertaining, and less dense, but lack Wegner's extensive detail through countless thoughtful (and generally “scientific”) approaches.

Among books about pi, infinity, e, and the golden ratio, this is by far the most interesting – a pocket sized tour de force spanning science, religion, history, complete with social commentary. The irony of such profoundly rich meaning in a symbol of, in some sense, nothing, is not easily overlooked. Even if you hate math, you will be glad to add this unique book to your shelf.