Mathematical trivia (i.e. collections of anecdotes and miscellaneous (recreational) mathematics)

Question

Can you suggest some books on mathematical trivia?

I use the word "trivia" with a double meaning in this case:

• curious anecdotes that enlighten what the real life of mathematicians is like (like the ones in Mathematical Apocrypha Redux);

• curious miscellaneous (also mainly recreational) mathematical ideas and topics with only occasional anecdotes and jokes (like the ones in Professor Stewart's Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities and Professor Stewart's Hoard of Mathematical Tresures).

Answer 1

My suggestions:

1."The Penguin book of curious and interesting mathematics" by David G. Wells;

2."The Colossal Book of Mathematics" by Martin Gardner;

3."Maths Facts, Fun, Tricks and Trivia" by Paul Swan;

4."Math hysteria" by Ian Stewart;

5."In Mathematical Circles: A Selection of Mathematical Stories and Anecdotes: Quadrants I, II, III, and IV (Mathematical Association of America)" by Howard W. Eves.

Answer 2

$The$ $Math$ B$ook$ is a personal favorite of mine.

Answer 3

The book Mathematical People: Profiles and Interviews has some nice anecdotes.

Answer 4

The biography of Paul Erdős, The Man Who Loved Only Numbers written by Paul Hoffman, may be of some interest to you as it certainly does contain mathematical ideas as well as interesting stories about a rather eccentric mathematician.

Answer 5

Some Polish accents...

1. Stanisław M. Ulam, Adventures of a Mathematician

2. The Scottish Book: Mathematics from the Scottish Café, ed. D. Mauldin, Birkäuser, Boston-Basel-Stuttgart, 1981.

3. Roman Kałuża, Through a reporter's eyes: The life of Stefan Banach, Birkäuser, Boston-Bazylea-Berlin, 1996, 2005.

4. Kazimierz Kuratowski: A Half Century of Polish Mathematics: Remembrances and Reflections, Pergamon Press, Oxford and PWN, Warszawa, 1980. (With a famous photograph, where after enumerating many professor there is "and Czesław Ryll-Nardzewski, at that time second year student of mathematics" [cited from memory]).

5. Krzysztof Ciesielski, Zdzisław Pogoda, Diamenty matematyki (Diamonds of Mathematics, in Polish. I am afraid not translated into English, but some fragments are obtainable in the WEB.)

Answer 6

The 'Automathography' of Paul R. Halmos, I WANT TO BE A MATHEMATICIAN might be of some interest to you.