Talk:A History of π

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[edit] Best. Book. Ever.

I read this book a few weeks ago and really liked it, so I decided to look up Petr Beckmann on the wiki. I didn't expect and article on the book though. Wow. Also, the books correct title is "A History of π (Pi)", but I don't know if you can put π in titles on the wiki. - Pacaman 17:04, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

Good point - I've just moved it to the correct title. - DavidWBrooks 19:02, 4 November 2006 (UTC)

Thanks! I think I have a good image [1], but I'm not sure about the copyright information. Also, is there a book template? Pacaman 22:05, 6 November 2006 (UTC)

Not sure. I don't see any on other vaguely equivalent (e.g., popular science) books. Go ahead and create one! - DavidWBrooks 22:11, 6 November 2006 (UTC)

I made a template at Template:scibook. I'll add it when I get back home. Pacaman 11:56, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

AHHH! When I added the template everything got sucked into it. [2] Pacaman 20:35, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

My version is published by St. Martin's Press. I can't seem to add it to the template, though - and the year should be 1976 in literature - DavidWBrooks 22:35, 7 November 2006 (UTC)

I added them. What else do you think would be useful on the template? Pacaman 02:19, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

Nothing I can think of, except a cover image. I think templates often go way overboard. - DavidWBrooks 02:53, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

Would you have copyright information for the cover on your book,for an image? (assuming you own the book) I got the book from a library. Pacaman 03:09, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

Hmm... It seems Petr Beckmann and this page have some conflicting information. From Petr Beckmann:Petr Beckmann, A History of π, Golem Press, 1971, ISBN 0911762124 Pacaman 20:19, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

I'm looking at my copy and it says copyright 1971 the Golem Press, for information write St. martin's Press Inc., and St. Martin's is the name on the spine. Golem must be a subsidiary of it - except it's not listed under the company's Web site. Perhaps it's a one-off that Beckmen set up for his own book; actually, yes, our own article says he created the press. St. Martin's must have handled the printing and distribution. - DavidWBrooks 21:59, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

I'll update the year. Maybe whoever added the Golem press to Beckmann's page would know something...? Pacaman 23:57, 8 November 2006 (UTC)

Interesting... I found this on History of Pi:

• A History of Pi, by Petr Beckmann, 1976, St. Martin's Griffin, ISBN 0312381859.

This conflicts with Petr Beckmann. Pacaman 11:51, 10 November 2006 (UTC)

I don't think it matters much; I think Golem did the editorial side of it (because it was Beckmann's baby) but St. Martin's did the printing, binding and distribution, and now probably owns republication rights. I'm not sure Golem Press even exists any more; I have trouble finding it online. Amazon.com lists the publisher as St. Martin's, so we should probably go with that - just because people looking for a copy nowadays will find that as the publisher. - DavidWBrooks 16:06, 10 November 2006 (UTC)

I agree with that, but when I went back to the school library today and the addition there said Golem Press and '71. Pacaman 20:19, 10 November 2006 (UTC)