One, Two, Three... Infinity - Amazing Book That Changed My World Around!

If there is a science book that aims to discuss complex concepts and theories with the use of good-witted humor and sensible anecdotes, it has to be George Gamow’s One, Two, Three Infinity. World-famous nuclear physicist and mathematician, George Gamow, in his 1947 book, One, Two, Three Infinity, presents mathematical theories, physics concepts and other complex scientific ideas in short stories and limericks without removing the essentials of the said theory. Many critics have hailed this book as the most uniquely written science book to ever be written and published!

One Two Three…Infinity originally came out in 1947 then revised in the year 1961. Bantam released a 335-page paperback which is interesting from the first page to the last one. It covers many areas of science such as physics, mathematics, and biology.

One Two Three...Infinity is full of charming and whimsical stories that take the readers into a deeper understanding of one of the greatest foundations of learning: science. In this book, the author gives an insight as to how science had been a great part of the ancient times as well as how it would still be a part of the contemporary life.

Along with the short fascinating anecdotes and stories based on myths that help explain certain theories, Gamow also includes illustrations of such theories to keep the readers entertained while learning. Gamow is one of the few authors around who know how to impart knowledge without the excessive use of technicalities and lifeless equations that ordinary people would not grasp. Simply said, One, Two, Three Infinity is a collection of stories, raw illustrations, and charming explanations of large numeric theories, the microcosm and the macrocosm, the theory of relativity, and other theories and studies.

One, Two, Three Infinity is a science book for those who loathe the traditional way of science being taught. Many who were able to read the first edition of George Gamow’s work glorify the One, Two, Three Infinity as the science book that you will never forget in your life. Evidently, the distinct charm of Gamow’s book lies on the author’s storytelling prowess and his ability to incorporate complex scientific theories in everyday life. There is a personal feel in One, Two, Three Infinity.

It is not every day that we come across science books that use humor in explaining and utilizes stories as tools. Perhaps these factors are what makes George Gamow’s book appealing to almost all types of readers. For the ordinary citizen, reading Gamow’s book is almost similar to reading short stories! The only difference is that deeply rooted in Gamow’s stories, there are meaningful concepts about science and mathematics that could be grasped and understood.

There is a popular misconception that science and mathematics are fields that are too complicated for ordinary people to understand. With Gamow’s One, Two, Three Infinity, the whole misconception is disproven. Thus, critics and educators alike come to the realization that the understanding of the people of mathematical theories and scientific concepts lie with how these theories are presented and structured. The problems, puzzles, and debates faced by modern science are discussed and explained through short stories and illustrations that are simple, yet deep in meaning and concept. Gamow evidently has a talent in explaining difficult concepts in more understandable manner. His introduction to concepts of Physics and numbers are extensive without coming off as too complicated.

Drawings and illustrations are interesting features of this book. Of course, the stories are already very interesting. With the drawings though, they are given a more colourful dimension. They are more special because they are the writer’s own scribbles.

The first part of the book discusses mathematics, particularly very large numbers. In this part, the author presented stories about the amazing power of exponential growth. The stories about the chess inventor as well as the game of Towers of Hanoi would charm and entertain readers.

After very large numbers is the discussion on the concept of infinity. Here the author presents some mental illustrations as to how to compare sizes of infinity. Imaginary numbers were discussed after infinity. In One Two Three...Infinity, the author solves an ancient treasure map problem using imaginary numbers. In this part of the book, the author makes a smooth transition to discussing topology, particularly a map colouring problem, and moves further to discuss relativity as well as the concept of time. This part contains a tale as to how the speed of light is measured as well as other physics concepts.

One, Two, Three Infinity has been life-changing for some. Those who have read this book as children found their love for science and learning. For adults, they found their love for science and learning rekindled. This book is highly recommended for teens who want to be introduced to Physics the right way. Books like these are what make learning math and science enjoyable and worthwhile. One, Two, Three Infinity is a work of art.

The second half of One Two Three…Infinity covers the concept of atom, the atomic structure, and the sub atomic particles namely proton, electron, and neutron. The author also tackles radioactivity and nuclear reactions. Here, the author moved from physics to biology with his discussion about the cell, heredity, and genetics. There is also a discussion about the principle of disorder or entropy as well as a brief discussion of science’s most popular theories such as the Big Bang theory. There is also an interesting discussion on probability and its many applications in our day to day living.

In his book, the author’s love for mathematical equations and algebra is evident. But just as evident is his total avoidance of Calculus. Nevertheless, One Two Three…Infinity is a handy book to have especially for those who are having a hard time taking a grasp of physics and mathematics. These two aspects of science can be complicated to a certain degree, but in One Two Three...Infinity, the author manages to make them seem like kid stuff.

This book gives a unique approach getting to know Science. Science is among the many subjects that intimidate people. With the help of this book, one will discover that science has a multitude of applications. It will also help many realize that the areas of science such as math and physics are at the very heart of civilization. It is both amazing and unfathomable that science seems to actually make our world go round. This book is recommended for anyone who just likes to be entertained and awed at the same time.