Has there ever been a mathematics teacher in a typical high school or undergraduate class that has not been asked “What is this good for? What will I ever use it for?” Examples like budgets or stating that engineering requires calculus does not dispel the skepticism. The purpose of this new and unique resource, published by Salem, is to explain “what this is good for” in surprising ways. This three volume academic work will be a general and nontechnical resource for students and teachers to understand the importance of mathematics. The Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Society is meant to be a source of information on the fundamental science and applications of mathematics behind our daily lives while showing how and why mathematics works and how the branches of mathematics affect our daily lives.

The 490 articles in this encyclopedia fall into one or more of the following fifteen broad categories: architecture and engineering; arts, music, and entertainment; business, economics, and marketing; communication and computers; friendship, romance, and religion; games, sports, and recreation; government, politics, and history; history and development of curricular concepts; mathematics around the world; mathematics culture and identity; medicine and health; school and society; space, time, and distance; travel and transportation; and weather, nature and environment. The editors’ criteria for the article topics to include in these categories are both practical and logical.

The front matter of volume 1 begins with a condensed table of contents of all three volumes followed by the publisher's note. Next is a page which gives information about the editors, both of whom are professors at Appalachian State University in North Carolina and have distinguished careers in academia. The introduction by the editors gives a detailed explanation of the purpose of the work and the reasons for the choices made in its creation. Especially pertinent is the fact that the articles do not teach or present detailed mathematical theory, derivations, or equations, leaving that task to the many sources for that purpose, such as textbooks and reference works dealing primarily with mathematics.

Next come two listings of articles: first an alphabetical listing of all 490 articles with the page number, followed by another list in which the articles are arranged by category. Finally is the list of article contributors, who come from small and large institutions from all over the world. The contents and alphabetical list of articles appear at the beginning of all three volumes. The last volume also includes at its end a Chronology of Mathematics, a bibliography, a glossary, and an extensive index.

Articles include “Brain,” “Predicting Divorce,” and “Martial Arts”—articles of astonishing choice and variety. Usually ranging from one to four pages, articles begin with a title, category, fields of study involved, and a brief summary. At the end of each, there are references for further reading, suggestions for related articles, and the name of the author. There are some biographical articles which were chosen to highlight the diversity of individuals who contributed to the included topics. This encyclopedia will be added to Salem History, this publisher's online historical database; thus most articles do emphasize historical aspects. Rather than being oversimplified, the information and the mathematics are comprehensive while still remaining accessible and understandable.

There are no obvious works with which to compare this publication. Of course, there are many encyclopedias and dictionaries of mathematics, some meant for advanced work, others for the beginning student. These works are heavy on formulas, calculations, and mathematical terms. James Tanton's Encyclopedia of Mathematics (Facts on File, 2005) is one such work often found in public libraries. It is of medium difficulty and features essays on the history of undergraduate branches of mathematics. Nigel Hopkins’ The Numbers You Need (Gale, 1992) has the same idea and a similar purpose, but at three hundred pages, it is too brief to be compared with the present work.

The Encyclopedia of Mathematics and Society will be a unique and useful addition to any public, high school, or undergraduate library. Mathematics teachers will find its availability to be most gratifying. Anyone will find it interesting reading.