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|  | Authors: Arthur Benjamin, Michael Shermer
Publisher: Three Rivers Press
List Price: $12.95
Buy New: $7.34
as of 11/23/2009 12:01 CST details
You Save: $5.61 (43%)
New (35) Used (9) Collectible (1) from $7.34
Seller: zp_books
Rating:  33 reviews
Sales Rank: 2598
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Pages: 304
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.8
ISBN: 0307338401
Dewey Decimal Number: 510
EAN: 9780307338402
ASIN: 0307338401
Publication Date: August 8, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: ALL BOOKS ARE BRAND NEW!
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 33
 Only three or four chapters worth reading August 7, 2009
Ben M. Carson (Minneapolis, MN USA)
6 out of 10 found this review helpful
This book teaches you a few principles to do arithmetics in your head but they are contained in the first two chapters on addition/subtraction and multiplication. Most of the rest of the books are about the same principles but applying to bigger numbers (squaring three digits number, doing 4-digit by 2-digit multiplication). Doing this requires keeping track of partial results in your head and combine them in the end. I don't see a point of training my short term memory for this because I am not paid to perform such mathematical tricks daily, not to mention my answers will not be as reliable as a $5.00 calculator. So, I learned just a few tricks to do 2-digit (maybe 3-digit) arithmetic in my head but no more.
The only practical chapter is the one on guesstimation. Even here, Only one or two tricks are new to me.
There is one chapter on simple math tricks you can do at a party which does not involve using a lot of short term memory.
In a nutshell, the author might as well explain the principles in 3 pages. The readers' interest and motivation to improve short term memory will determine how much you can do mental math.
Useful to speed up mathematics operations July 26, 2009
David Gomez
With this book you will learn not only how to add up, subtract, multiply, divide and square 2 and 3-digit numbers just using your mind, but also how to perform simple tricks -- such as find out the day of the week you were born on.
Great Book July 17, 2009
Sammie J. Lin (Santa Barbara, CA)
My job revolves around math, I wish I knew this stuff in High School. Very well written and very interesting. 5 Stars!
Perfect for What it Does April 28, 2009
Gregory Ferenstein (California)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Secrets of Mental Math is in a league of its own. Its clear, succinct, and well paced. If you're familiar with the "For Dummies" series (like I am, I admit!), the book reads at about the same level.
Its worth purchasing because the shortcuts aren't anywhere else on the Internet. (I think the author actually discovered some of the mathematical shortcuts, himself).
One word of caution: make sure you feel comfortable with each technique before moving on. I didn't do this the first run through, and had to go back.
Simply amazing March 24, 2009
Himura Kenshin (South East, United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
First of all this book has really changed the way I see math and its everyday applications.
Now then as for the book its self, its definitely a fantastic book to say the least.
I think the composition of it is fair and its certainly an easy read, even though its a math book it contains some interesting (by interesting I mean not boring as you would expect a book on math to be) facts and amusing insights.
As for the methods I can personally vouch for their validity and their simplicity.
All the methods when following the rules obviously are easy to remember and with a little practice you will certainly surprise yourself with your new found abilities.
I cannot recommend this book enough, mental math skills is something we seem to be lacking more and more in modern society because our dependence on technology. I say ease off tech. a little bit and rely on your mind more its more powerful than a lot of people realize.
Showing reviews 6-10 of 33
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