The autobiography of the beloved writer who inspired a generation to study math and science, Undiluted Hocus-Pocus offers a rare, intimate look at Martin Gardner’s life and work, and the experiences that shaped both.

The history of pi, says the author, though a small part of the history of mathematics, is nevertheless a mirror of the history of man. Petr Beckmann holds up this mirror, giving the background of the times when pi made progress— and also when it did not, because science was being stifled by militarism or religious fanaticism.

Millions of students dread their math classes and live in fear of the math section of the SAT. But as this book demonstrates, anyone can put these phobias to rest and deal with essential everyday mathematical calculations with confidence. Math Magic makes math what you may never have imagined it to be: easy and fun.

Here are 26 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.