Infinite Powers Summary

Infinite Powers: How Calculus Reveals the  Secrets of the Universe - A Comprehensive Summary



Steven Strogatz’s Infinite Powers: How Calculus Reveals the Secrets of the Universe is an attempt to tell the story of the universe according to calculus. The basic premise of the book is the Infinity Principle—that it is possible to solve any problem by breaking it up into infinite parts, solving them, and putting the solutions back together to create a whole answer. Strogatz argues that the entire universe operates according to mathematical principles because differential equations are the language of God. 

The book contains 11 chapters. Strogatz starts by describing the evolution of geometry, algebra, and calculus from Africa and Asia to Europe. He covers some modern applications of differential and partial equations, including CGI movies, the spread of digital information, MRI and CT scans, banking, and various drug therapies. 

As the book continues, Strogatz explains the application of differential and integral calculus to solve the mystery of planetary motion. He narrates how famous mathematicians like Newton, Archimedes, Pythagoras, and Galileo made mathematical discoveries that have impacted civilization. 

The book concludes with a look into the future of calculus and its potential to revolutionize the world further. Ultimately, Strogatz believes that calculus is the key to unlocking the greater mysteries that lay hidden outside our current realm of knowledge. 

A very general summary of Infinite Powers, by Steven Strogatz, might describe the book as an exposition of the history and application of calculus, one of the most fundamental branches of mathematics ever discovered by mankind. But such a clinical synopsis would miss the vibrant, personal story that Strogatz tells, reminding us that scientific, philosophical, and mathematical progress is necessarily a human endeavor. Although we stand on the shoulders of giants, those giants were as prone to ego, insecurity, fervor, and mysticism as any of us mere mortals.

The stories in Infinite Powers demonstrate that the intellectual rigor by which discoveries are made—and the drama that infuses any tale of people—cannot be separated. The growth of knowledge and humanity are, and have been, forever intertwined. Strogatz reminds us that even the seemingly infallible heroes of our intellectual lineage are flesh and blood, one with the rest of us.


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