The Development of Mathematics

Rating:
Summary: Spellbinding and Provocative
Review: As a retired professional mathematician eager to learn more about the history of my subject, I found this book absolutely fascinating. Bell writes very forcefully, sometimes expressing his personal judgments in a manner that some might find offensive but which I found provocative (he frequently gives references in his notes to other scholars who disagree with his views). He doesn't hesitate to report on the dark side of mathematicians' battles (both philosophical and personal) with one another.

I recommend that one read a more conventional history of mathematics (such as Boyer, Kline or Gratton-Guinness) before attempting this controversial one.

Be forewarned that Constance Reid, in her biography of Bell, points out errors in this book. I forgive Bell for those because no one person could possibly comprehend in detail all the abstruse mathematics which he covers relatively well. I recommend this book only to readers already somewhat knowledgeable in mathematics.

Rating:
Summary: An excellent history of Western mathematics
Review: For anyone interesred in the history of Western Mathematics,this book is a must!It is written by a man very well versed in the subject,and very well written at that(it is to be noted that E.T Bell was also a poet,which explains his masterly command of the English language).
However,there is one shortcoming :his understanding of Muslim Mathematics and its contribution to the development of European Mathematics is very scant.So much so ,that the great Al-Khuwarizmi,the one who coined the word Al-Jabr from which our "Algebra" derives,is given but a very minor role in the development of this science.Other great mathematicians,like Al-Biruni,are not even mentioned!For those interested in a thorough history of Muslim mathematics,other books are preferable,e.g the History of Mathematics by David Eugene Smith,or the book on Al-Khuwarizmi by André Allard(in French,unfortunately).
On the other hand,the 1992 Dover edition of the book was not thoroughly revised.As a result,people like Einstein,Dirac,Schroödinger and Heisenberg ,among others,are noted in the Index as still alive!And Einstein's birth year is wrongly given as 1878 instead of 1879.But these are mere trifles,and do not affect the overall quality of this book.

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing and Unhelpful
Review: Speaking as someone with a degreee in math, plus some graduate work, I found this book frustrating and disappointing. I wanted to fill in some historical perspective to all the math I had learned, but I was little illuminated by this book. While the author clearly knows a lot about math, his writing is vague, poorly organized, and unfocused. He answered few of my questions and does not present a coherent picture of his topic. Rather than this book, I recommend Morris Kline "Mathematical Thought from Ancient to Modern Times", which is infinitely better.

Rating:
Summary: If you only read 1 history of math, this is it.
Review: This is the most engaging and entertaining history of mathematics ever written. If you think that math history is dry, then this is the book that will change your mind. This masterpiece traces early evolution through the Greeks and Hindus, but spends most of its time on modern math since 1600 up to about 1940. The mathematical insight is alive and sparkles with clarity and depth. The exposition draws you into the struggle between competing ideas, and is a tribute to man's creativity. If you are the type of person for whom math is beautiful art, then this is the book for you.

Rating:
Summary: A good general outline of Mathematics
Review: While the style could be better, this is a general and good outline of the history of mathematics.

I would point out that the little time spent on Al-Magi Al-Khawarizmi (literally "The Magus (Zorastarian, not Muslim) from Khazar (near the Caspian Sea)") is justified. Al-Khawarizmi merely translated the formulaic Algebra (which the Indians developed from the Greeks and systemized it from its rhetorical origin) from a Hindu text (brought to the court of the Caliph by Indian Ambassadors seeking trade, they were soon rewarded with Moghul Jihad) and translated the Hindu word for 'reorganisation' or 'rebalancing' into Arabic (Al-Jabr). From there, Spanish scholars were able to access the work. As a translator, AL-Khawarizmi certainly provided a service, but he was a Zorastarian from the biggest population of Zorastarians outside of Persia, Khazar. No self-respecting Muslim would keep "al-Magus" as part of his name after conversion.