This is a book about mathematics but there is really very little mathematics in it. It is not about the history of mathematics either, though Dr. Ellenberg reaches throughout the book for some of the names and doings of that history to illustrate his themes. The theme is really the world, especially the social world, and how so much of what we experience is expressible mathematically, even if that expression comes not to a definite answer, but only a maybe or other equivocation. This is a book about getting us to think about the world's regularities and the claims of people in terms of the mathematics that can represent them. It turns out if you understand even the broad outlines of the mathematics you are in a much better position to analyze the claim or make the bet even if you do not (or cannot) actually DO the mathematics involved.<br><br>A simple example tells the tale. We have all heard claims of the following sort: "the majority of Americans do not support X" (where X of course is just about anything at all of a social or political nature). Now it turns out that if you ask a whole lot of Americans three questions, questions about X, Y, and Z, and if roughly a third of the people asked are positive on one of the three and negative on the other two, it will turn out you can say with a straight face that a majority of Americans do not support X, Y, or Z, your choice, and you would be right! It is this sort of thing that "How Not to be Wrong" is really about. It is well written, not dry, enlightening (you will come away with a greater appreciation for mis-directed claims), and addresses much if not all of the social world we navigate daily.<br><br>Enjoy