Lillian Rosanoff Lieber

Lillian R. Lieber (1886-1986) was a mathematician and popular author. Many generations of readers have been inspired and influenced by her popular books on mathematics and its philosophical implications.Home page of Robert T. Jantzen, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Villanova University [http://www34.homepage.villanova.edu/robert.jantzen/lieber/] ] She often teamed up with her illustrator husband, Hugh Gray Lieber, to produce visually compelling works.

Life and career

Early life

Lieber was one of four children of Clara and Abraham Rosanoff.

Career

Lieber was head of the math department at Long Island University and the Galois Institute of Mathematics and Art in Brooklyn, New York until her retirement in 1950. Her highly accessible writings were praised by no less than Albert Einstein, C. J. Keyser, E. T. Bell, and S. I. Hayakawa. Concerning her book, "The Education of T. C. MITS", Dorothy Canfield Fisher said:

"This is quite different from any other book you ever bought... full of mathematics and full of humor... also full of a deep, healing philosophy of life, reassuring, strengthening, [and] humane..."Bookjacket of the 1944 W. W. Norton Edition of "The Education of T. C. MITS"]

Personal Obscurity

Few details of Lillian Lieber's life and career have survived, even at Long Island University.

Unusual Typography

In addition to enlivening her books with illustrations by her husband, Hugh Gray Lieber (who was head of the Department of Fine Arts at Long Island University), Lillian often chose an unusual scheme of typography which is self-explained in this example from her Preface to "The Education of T. C. MITS":

This is not intended to be
free verse.
Writing each phrase on a separate line
facilitates rapid reading,
and everyone
is in a hurry
nowadays.

T.C. MITS was an acronym for "The Celebrated Man In The Street," a character who, like George Gamow's Mr. Tompkins, served as a device for bringing concepts in higher mathematics and physics to the general public. The MITS character was central to Lieber's populist approach to education, and she often laced her expositions with passages extolling the virtues of the democratic system.

"The Lillian Lieber Standard"

In her highly accessible book, "The Einstein Theory of Relativity", Lillian Lieber stated her views on the inclusion of mathematics in books intended for "the celebrated man [or woman] in the streets:"

"...just enough mathematics to HELP and NOT to HINDER the lay reader... Many 'popular' discussions of Relativity without any math at all have been written, but we doubt whether even the best of these can possibly give to a novice an adequate idea of what it is all about.... On the other hand, there are many [books on relativity] that are accessible to experts only."

The Cavendish Press in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has adopted Lillian's rule of thumb with some elaboration.Cavendish Press Web Site, elaboration of the [http://www.cavendishscience.org/bks/rel/math.htm Lillian Lieber Standard] ]

Works

Although her works were broadly influential (including a special paperback edition of "The Education of T. C. MITS" that was circulated to American servicemen during World War II), all seem to be out of print today; however, the MITS book is being republished by Paul Dry Books, Inc. on June 1, 2007 (ISBN 1589880331). Used copies of the rest of her books can often be found at various Internet booksellers.

*1931 "Non-euclidean Geometry", Academy Press.

*1932 "Galois and the Theory of Groups", Science Press Printing Company, Lancaster, Pa.

*1936 "The Einstein Theory of Relativity", Science Press Printing Co., Lancaster, PA.

*1940 "Non-euclidean Geometry: Three Moons in Mathesis", Science Press Printing Co., Lancaster, PA.

*1942 "The Education of T. C. MITS", The Galois Institute Press, Long island University.

*1944 "The Education of T. C. MITS", W. W. Norton & Co., NY, (Revjsed & Enlarged edition)

*1945 "The Einstein theory of Relativity", Farrar & Rinehart, NY. (Part I of this edition is the same material published in 1936. Part II was new in this edition.

*1946 "Modern Mathematics for T. C. Mits, The Celebrated Man in the Street", G. Allen & Unwin Ltd, London, 1st London Edition.

*1946 "Take a Number: Mathematics for the Two Billion", The Jacques Cattell Press, Lancaster, PA.

*1947 "Mits, Wits and Logic", (1st Edition) W.W. Norton, NY.

*1949 "The Einstein Theory of Relativity", D. Dobson, London.

*1953 "Infinity" Rinehart, NY.

*1954 "Mits, Wits, and Logic", (Revised Edition) Galois Institute Press, Brooklyn.

*1959 "Lattice Theory; the Atomic Age in Mathematics", Galois Institute of Mathematics and Art, Brooklyn, NY.

*1960 "Mits, Wits, and Logic", (3d Edition) W. W. Norton, NY.

*1961 "Human Values and Science, Art and Mathematics", (1st Edition) W. W. Norton, NY.

*1963 "Mathematics: First S-t-e-p-s", F. Watts, NY.

Notes

External links

* [http://www34.homepage.villanova.edu/robert.jantzen/lieber/lieber.htm Photos of Lillian Lieber and her husband, Hugh Lieber]
* [http://www.lib.virginia.edu/small/exhibits/ase/images/other/A165.jpgImage of a letter referencing the Armed Services Edition of "The Education of T. C. MITS".]
* [http://physics.ship.edu/~mrc/pfs/308/relativity_1/ch1.htm A web version of Chapter 1 of "The Einstein Theory of Relativity", including illustrations by Hugh Lieber.]