by Eddie Woo

2021 Mathical Honor Book

Why aren’t left-handers extinct?
What makes a rainbow round?
How is a pancreas . . . like a pendulum?

These may not look like math questions, but they are—because they all have to do with patterns. And mathematics, at heart, is the study of patterns.

That realization changed Eddie Woo’s life—by turning the “dry” subject he dreaded in high school into a boundless quest for discovery. Now an award-winning math teacher, Woo sees patterns everywhere: in the “branches” of blood vessels and lightning, in the growth of a savings account and a sunflower, even in his morning cup of tea!

Here are twenty-six bite-size chapters on the hidden mathematical marvels that encrypt our email, enchant our senses, and even keep us alive—from the sine waves we hear as “music” to the mysterious golden ratio.

This book will change your mind about what math can be. We are all born mathematicians—and It’s a Numberful World.

★ 2021 Mathical Honor Book

“A great introduction to mathematics! . . . Woo manages to make complex math super accessible by weaving it into interesting stories about the world around us.”—Mathical

“Lighthearted and delightful . . . invitingly divvied up into twenty-six accessible chapters, It’s a Numberful World is the ideal guide to math’s multi-patterned treasures.”—Foreword Reviews

“Highly unique . . . Eddie Woo keeps his writing extremely conversational. . . . He introduces mathematical vocabulary in a fun and approachable way. . . . A gentle but enthusiastic introduction to a wide variety of interesting mathematical topics.”—Mathematical Association of America

“Eddie Woo is one of the best math teachers on the planet. His book is as buoyant, open-hearted, and energetic as he is.”—Steven Strogatz, author of The Joy of x and Infinite Powers

“You probably know acclaimed math teacher Eddie Woo through watching his excellent videos. . . . Well, now there is a book, and it’s a winner. . . . Mr. Woo shows how mathematics lies just beneath the surface in practically every aspect of our lives. What makes it sing is that his engaging personality shines through on every page.”—Keith Devlin, Stanford University mathematician and author of The Language of Mathematics
 
Praise from Australia

“Learning mathematics is like climbing the stairs of a skyscraper. . . . Some educators scream at us from a tenth-story window as we look up at them in confusion. Eddie greets you at the foyer and is there beside you while you take each and every step. . . . Eddie is more than just the math teacher we all wanted. Eddie is the math teacher we all need.”—Simon Pampena, Australian numeracy ambassador
 
“I never thought I’d read a math book cover to cover, let alone sing its praises. Eddie Woo makes math fun, accessible and relevant. Now we can all benefit from his extraordinary skill as a teacher.”—Jenny Brockie, journalist and TV host
 
“Not just a great teacher, [It’s a Numberful World] shows Eddie to be a storyteller, too. Is there anything the Woo cannot do?”—Adam Spencer, ambassador for mathematics, University of Sydney