Engines of Logic: Mathematicians and the Origin of the Computer

Computers are ubiquitous yet to many they remain objects of irreducible mystery. This text looks at the question of how today's computers can perform such a variety of tasks if computing is just glorified arithmetic. The author illustrates how the answer lies in the fact that computers are essentially engines of logic and that their hardware and software embody concepts developed over centuries by logicians. Engines of Logic gives the reader a clear explanation of how and why computers work.