Mathematics and Humor: A Study Of The Logic Of Humor - Softcover

Paulos, John Allen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0226650251 ISBN 13: 9780226650258

Publisher: University of Chicago Press, 1982

Synopsis

John Allen Paulos cleverly scrutinizes the mathematical structures of jokes, puns, paradoxes, spoonerisms, riddles, and other forms of humor, drawing examples from such sources as Rabelais, Shakespeare, James Beattie, René Thom, Lewis Carroll, Arthur Koestler, W. C. Fields, and Woody Allen.

"Jokes, paradoxes, riddles, and the art of non-sequitur are revealed with great perception and insight in this illuminating account of the relationship between humor and mathematics."—Joseph Williams, New York Times

"'Leave your mind alone,' said a Thurber cartoon, and a really complete and convincing analysis of what humour is might spoil all jokes forever. This book avoids that danger. What it does. . .is describe broadly several kinds of mathematical theory and apply them to throw sidelights on how many kinds of jokes work."—New Scientist

"Many scholars nowadays write seriously about the ludicrous. Some merely manage to be dull. A few—like Paulos—are brilliant in an odd endeavor."—Los Angeles Times Book Review

About this title

About the Author

John Allen Paulos is professor of mathematics at Temple University. His most recent book is Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences.

From the Back Cover

John Allen Paulos cleverly scrutinizes the mathematical structures of jokes, puns, paradoxes, spoonerisms, riddles, and other forms of humor, drawing examples from such sources as Rabelais, Shakespeare, James Beattie, Rene Thom, Lewis Carroll, Arthur Koestler, W.C. Fields, and Woody Allen.

Edition details

• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Publication date: 1982
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0226650251
• ISBN 13: 9780226650258
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 124