A History of Algorithms: From the Pebble to the Microchip

Rating:
Summary: A very well presented history of algorithms for applied math
Review: A very nice book that focuses on algorithms in applied mathematics through the work of their creators. The readers might need a bit of a background (say a year or two of university level math) but not more because the presentation and symbolism are very clear.

The style is simple, most sections start with an intro, followed by a short extract written by an original author (say Newton or Gauss), to finish with explanation or highlights refering to the text. This is what makes the book so good, throughout the book is a great feeling of discovery in its context. When you read a section on Gauss it is right after the section on Fermat and the flow of ideas is really well presented.

So if you like mathematics and want to get a nice overview of algorithms in applied mathematics this is the book to buy.