Mathematical ignorance and its consequences. Paulos John Allen

Inability to handle large numbers and probabilities leads people to many unreasonable decisions - both at the global and household level. Due to mathematical ignorance, they allow the media to manipulate the media, trust all kinds of pseudones and scare events that do not deserve much attention. Why even smart and educated people often do not at all understand mathematics and what is the price of such ignorance - questions that deeply excite the author of this book.

John Allen Paulos considers very different aspects of our life at a mathematical angle: presidential elections and statistics, fraud with securities and medical charlatanism, insurance and casinos, lotteries and clinical analyzes, while not abusing complicated calculations And he does not skimp on funny stories, vividly illustrating discussions about numbers and probabilities.

The book helps readers to realize their mistakes and teaches you to avoid traps, which easily get an uncritic mind. It is addressed to everyone who appreciates common sense and strives for a rational view of the world.

The book comes out with a review of Alexei Savvateev (Doctor of Physics and Mathematical Sciences, Mathematics Mathematics among Children and Adults) and Mikhail Bochkarev (Mathematics teacher).