The Last Recreations

Martin Gardner's "Mathematical Recreations" column in "Scientific American" could be said to have defined the genre of popular mathematics writing for a generation. This is a collection of these columns, covering the period from 1979 to Gardner's retirement as a regular columnist in 1986.

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Of all of Martin Gardners writings, none gained him a wider audience or was more central to his reputation than his Mathematical Recreations column in Scientific American - which virtually defined the genre of popular mathematics writing for a generation. Flatland, Hydras and Eggs: Mathematical Mystifications is the final collection of these columns, covering the period roughly from 1979 to Gardners retirement in 1986. As always in his published collections, Gardner includes letters commenting on the ideas presented in his articles. These columns show him at the top of his form and should not be missed by anyone with an interest in mathematics.