Most Popular Books by Alan Baker

First published in 1975, this classic book gives a systematic account of transcendental number theory, that is those numbers which cannot be expressed as the roots of algebraic equations having rational coefficients. Their study has developed into a fertile and extensive theory enriching many branches of pure mathematics. Expositions are presented of theories relating to linear forms in the logarithms of algebraic numbers, of Schmidt''s generalisation of the Thue-Siegel-Roth theorem, of Shidlovsky''s work on Siegel''s |E|-functions and of Sprindzuk''s solution to the Mahler conjecture. The volume was revised in 1979: however Professor Baker has taken this further opportunity to update the book including new advances in the theory and many new references.

In this book, Professor Baker describes the rudiments of number theory in a concise, simple and direct manner.

The author''s classic concise introduction now fully updated and developed to suit courses extending from primers to introductions to research.

Alan Baker weaves an extraordinary, vivid picture of Roman life as his compelling and evocative history tells the story of Rome''s most notable gladiators. They were condemned and feared by emperors, slaughtered and adored by the masses and worshipped by their female fans, yet their lives were invariably violently short. Whether their enemy was a starved tiger or a battle-hardened criminal, their numbered days were dark and bloody. Yet men gave up their wealth and freedom to become gladiators and noble-women gave up their positions to be with them. The Gladiator illuminates the extraordinary lives of Spartacus, Commodus, Eppia and others - bringing the same energy and passion to the page that Ridley Scott''s cinematic triumph bough to the screen.

An up-close introduction to the most admired warriors in history "They mounted their horses, grasped the lances made of fine Bordeaux Steel, closed the visors of their helmets, and made their way to their stations for the first course. Spurring their horses on, they advanced toward each other at full gallop, lowering their lances as they approached. The tip of Clifford''s lance caught Boucmel high on his breastplate and was deflected off . . . directly into the young squire''s mail hood, piercing his neck clean through." This tragic account of an ambitious young Frenchman''s senseless death during a "friendly" joust with an English knight underscores the ever-present danger that stalked the flower of European youth in the Middle Ages. In The Knight, you''ll meet John Boucmel, Nicholas Clifford, and scores of other warriors who risked their lives to fill the medieval lists and battlefields in a relentless quest for fame, glory, and victory. This vivid, fast-paced narrative whisks you from the blood-soaked fields of Normandy in the Hundred Years'' War to the battered walls of Jerusalem in the first Crusade, from a sumptuous feast in an English castle to the pomp and pageantry of a spectacular thirty-day jousting tournament. You''ll discover how knights were trained; how they paid for their expensive weapons, armor, and horses; and how the solemn vows they took influenced their behavior both on and off the battlefield. Discover the truth behind the countless legends of the Age of Chivalry in The Knight.

Because a young girl imagines that spooky things make the sounds she hears in the dark at bedtime, she is relieved to find the real cause of each sound.

The story of a rabbit''s exhausting efforts to paint a picture presents the letters of the alphabet.

This work provides a comprehensive history of the curious occult belief systems that influenced the architects of National socialism and which became central to Nazi philosophy and propaganda. It also shows how these theories continued to flourish after World War II.

Little Mouse discovers that things are not always as they appear to be on Halloween. Features die-cut pages.

With Alan Baker''s playful little rabbits as their guide, very young children will learn readily as they enjoy the colorful mix of animals, objects, vehicles and explore the interactive games on each page. Can you find the seven penguins? Who has the most strawberries? How many pairs of shoes are there? Which car came first in the race? Little Rabbit is discovering numbers mean fun and games... and numbers are everywhere. Parents and teachers who are encouraging children to learn to count, will appreciate the variety of early numeracy skills that will help to give pre-schoolers a headstart at school. Whether it is a two-year-old learning to count from one to ten, a three-year-old fascinated by numbers found in the world around them, or a four-year-old discovering simple mathematical language -- "more", "most", "fewer" and "all" -- each young child coming to this book will get an early grasp of numerical skills. Helpful notes, developed in consultation with an expert, on how to use the book make it fun and easy for parents and children to share.

Little Rabbit helps explain such number concepts as grouping like objects, more and less, counting, and matching.

Wizards have always been powerful iconic figures. Baker focuses on various individuals - real and mythical - and their lives, powers and impact on history. He also offers wider insights into the practical uses of magic - such as spells and talismans - and the origins of secret magical societies.

Brown Rabbit finds a box of balloons and creates various shapes from them.

White Rabbit hops from one paint pot to another, changing colors as he goes, until he ends up brown.

When Mouse visits each of his friends as they busily prepare for Christmas, he wonders if they have forgotten about him--until he finds a surprise awaiting him at home.

History is replete with unanswered questions regarding our own past and that of the world in which we live. Some of these questions are mere curiosities; others are of the profoundest importance to our cultural identity and have a serious bearing on our future. Each self-contained chapter in The Enigmas of History covers a particular mystery, ranging across the globe and throughout history: from Atlantis to the Amazons; from the Ark of the Covenant to the enigma of the Black Madonnas; and from the weird mystery of Spring-heeled Jack to visions of the Virgin Mary. Among the topics explored are: • The strange history of the Dogon tribe of Mali in West Africa, who believe that they were visited in the distant past by amphibious beings from another star • The legend of the lost Himalayan kingdom of Shambhala • The mystery of the crystal skulls • The enigma of the indecipherable Voynich manuscript The Enigmas of History is an entertaining, informative compendium of strange events and weird encounters with the unexplained. It is packed with information on historical mysteries, puzzles and bewildering discoveries, and will intrigue the historian and general reader alike.

Our best scientific theories explain a wide range of empirical phenomena, make accurate predictions, and are widely believed. Since many of these theories make ample use of mathematics, it is natural to see them as confirming its truth. Perhaps the use of mathematics in science even gives us reason to believe in the existence of abstract mathematical objects such as numbers and sets. These issues lie at the heart of the Indispensability Argument, to which this Element is devoted. The Element''s first half traces the evolution of the Indispensability Argument from its origins in Quine and Putnam''s works, taking in naturalism, confirmational holism, Field''s program, and the use of idealisations in science along the way. Its second half examines the explanatory version of the Indispensability Argument, and focuses on several more recent versions of easy-road and hard-road fictionalism respectively.

How did the universe begin and how will it end? What happens to us when we die? Do intelligent beings exist elsewhere in our galaxy and beyond? The Edge of Science addresses these and many other questions that have bewildered and perplexed humanity for centuries. Some of these enigmas have been solved through the ingenuity of their investigators; others remain a mystery and have given rise to equally bizarre speculations. From the Tunguska explosion of 1908 to the enigma of the Moon''s origin, from the possibility of time travel to the search for zero-point energy, author Alan Baker examines the many theories that have been presented to account for the world''s most enduring mysteries. Each chapter deals with an enigma that has caused wonder, excitement or fear to all who have pondered it, including: the discovery of strange fossils that hint at an unknown early history of humanity; anomalous structures photographed on the Moon and Mars; the mystery of dark matter and dark energy; and strange disappearances of people and objects. Join Alan Baker as he embarks on a strange, stimulating and sometimes frightening journey to The Edge of Science.

This title aims to combine learning with fun. It contains over 150 familiar words grouped under themes and includes simple word and concept games to develop early learning skills.

Brown Rabbit prepares some special treats for his friends when they come to play.

This book had its beginnings as picture narrative to share our travel experiences with our family and friends. That way, they could follow our trip at their own pace rather than the unfashionable photo or slide night. Our adventurers are a middle aged Australian couple keen to share their travel experiences with anybody prepared to listen or more particularly, read about them. Our itinerary basically consisted of touring Switzerland, Southern France and Northern Italy. We had heard from numerous sources that Switzerland was everyones favourite place in Europe so our first flight destination was Zurich. From Zurich, we were off to beautiful Paris, onto Dijon to Chalon Sur Soanne where we travelled by river cruise boat to Arles and Avignon. From Avignon, we travelled to Nice by train where we made a ripper mistake to travel by hire car into Italy something that Id always wanted to do. We made our way to the beautiful Cinque Terre via Sestri Leventi and up north to gorgeous Bellagio on Lake Como in the foothills of the Italian Alps. From there, we went back to Milan, onto unbelievable Venice, down to Florence, Sienna and finished our adventure in Rome. The book is a light hearted diary of our trip with lots of meaningful pictures. It is also littered with travel tips and advice for the unwary traveller such as :- Dont ever again forget to take the vegemite Dont ever again forget to pack the shorts Dont ever again hire a car overseas. The train services in Europe are fantastic. A smooth comfortable and very fast ride. Dont ever again take a large suitcase Dont ever again fly long haul routes in anything smaller than an A380 Airbus I must travel by first class rail wherever possible Anyway, the book seemed to be popular with those who had read it so I thought that I would publish it professionally and share our experiences with the wider public. I hope that you enjoy reading it.

Brown Rabbit finds a box of balloons and creates various shapes from them.

Gray Rabbit finds some clay and makes different kinds of animals, from one wiggly worm to ten scurrying mice.