About the First Edition: The study of any topic becomes more meaningful if one also studies the historical development that resulted in the final theorem. ...This is an excellent book on mathematics in the making. -Philip Peak, The Mathematics Teacher, May, 1975 I find the book very interesting. It contains valuable information and useful references. It can be recommended not only to historians of science and mathematics but also to students of probability and statistics. -Wei-Ching Chang, Historica Mathematica, August, 1976 In the months since I wrote...I have read it from cover to cover at least.

About the First Edition: The study of any topic becomes more meaningful if one also studies the historical development that resulted in the final theorem. ... This is an excellent book on mathematics in the making. --Philip Peak, The Mathematics Teacher, May, 1975 I find the book very interesting. It contains valuable information and useful references. It can be recommended not only to historians of science and mathematics but also to students of probability and statistics. --Wei-Ching Chang, Historica Mathematica, August, 1976 In the months since I wrote ... I have read it from cover to cover at least once and perused it here and there a number of times. I still find it a very interesting and worthwhile contribution to the history of probability and statistics. --Churchill Eisenhart, past president of the American Statistical Association, in a letter to the author, February 3, 1975 The name Central Limit Theorem covers a wide variety of results involving the determination of necessary and sufficient conditions under which sums of independent random variables, suitably standardized, have cumulative distribution functions close to the Gaussian distribution. As the name Central Limit Theorem suggests, it is a centerpiece of probability theory which also carries over to statistics. Part One of The Life and Times of the Central Limit Theorem, Second Edition traces its fascinating history from seeds sown by Jacob Bernoulli to use of integrals of $\exp (x^2)$ as an approximation tool, the development of the theory of errors of observation, problems in mathematical astronomy, the emergence of the hypothesis of elementary errors, the fundamental work of Laplace, and the emergence of an abstract Central Limit Theorem through the work of Chebyshev, Markov and Lyapunov. This closes the classical period of the life of the Central Limit Theorem, 1713-1901. The second part of the book includes papers by Feller and Le Cam, as well as comments by Doob, Trotter, and Pollard, describing the modern history of the Central Limit Theorem (1920-1937), in particular through contributions of Lindeberg, Cramer, Levy, and Feller. The Appendix to the book contains four fundamental papers by Lyapunov on the Central Limit Theorem, made available in English for the first time.

This elementary introduction to probability theory and information theory is suitable as a textbook for beginning students in mathematics, statistics or computer science who have some knowledge of basic calculus. It provides a clear and systematic foundation to the subject; the concept of probability is given particular attention via a highly simplified discussion of measures on Boolean algebras. The theoretical ideas are then applied to practical areas such as statistical inference, random walks, statistical mechanics and communications modelling. Topics dealt with include discrete and continuous random variables, entropy and mutual information, maximum entropy methods, the central limit theorem and the coding and transmission of information. Many examples and exercises are included that illustrate how the theory can be applied, for example to information technology. Detailed solutions to most exercises are available electronically from the Cambridge WWW server.

This study discusses the history of the central limit theorem and related probabilistic limit theorems from about 1810 through 1950. In this context the book also describes the historical development of analytical probability theory and its tools, such as characteristic functions or moments. The central limit theorem was originally deduced by Laplace as a statement about approximations for the distributions of sums of independent random variables within the framework of classical probability, which focused upon specific problems and applications. Making this theorem an autonomous mathematical object was very important for the development of modern probability theory.

An esteemed professor and one-time chairman of the mathematics department at New York's Pace University, Adams, interested in all facets of university administration, has produced an almost Jeffersonian volume of correspondence from his tenure. His views on textbook selection, collective bargaining and the proper role of the university have all flowed from his notebook, and no problem was too minute to evade his scope The frivolity of some of these papers is balanced by Adams's opinions on weightier issues, including sexual harassment and compensation in higher education. His approach and forward manner on these situations, despite how genuine, sometimes engendered resentment from his fellow faculty. But for those interested in the particulars of an academic career, this book offers a glimpse of what life may really be like inside the ivory tower. - Kirkus Discoveries-

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF STATISTICAL SCIENCES

" Our objective in this book is to present an exposition of basic principles of statistics along with some indication of applications which satisfies the following ten commandments: The focus should be placed on a clear development of basic ideas and principles. The exposition of these basic ideas and principles should be streamlined so as to avoid having the undergrowth get in the way of the statistical forest. High priority should be given to the assumptions which underlie the application of statistical principles. Understanding of abuses, misuses, and misunderstandings which have arisen from the application of statistics is essential for a correct understanding of statistics. The coverage should provide students with sufficient preparation for continued study of intermediate and advanced level statistics or disciplines which use statistical methodology. The exposition should be readable and understandable by students without sacrifice of mathematical accuracy. The organization should clearly distinguish mainstream topics inherent in every basic level statistics course, irrespective of applied interests, from topics of special interest to particular audience segments. The computation dimension should not be given equal billing with statistical principles and ideas. Statistics is the master and, important as it is, the computation tool is the servant. Exercises to provoke-thought - exercise the little grey cells, as Hercule Poirot would put it - should be a prominent part of the exposition. Exercise banks to help the student see statistics as a whole are important.