Books and Authors

Books to Celebrate Pi Day

By Eliot Boden March 13, 2025

We celebrate Pi Day on March 14th, since 3, 1, and 4 are the first three digits of pi (written as π)—the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, which is used in many mathematical formula and calculations, notably the area of a circle (πr², where r is the radius of the circle). Even if you’re not a mathematician, you can enjoy this day in many ways. Here are a few books from WashU Libraries that celebrate numbers, circles, and everything 314.

Pi (The Number)

A History of the Circle: Mathematical Reasoning and the Physical Universe by Ernest Zebrowski, Jr.
You don’t have to be a math major to appreciate the history of science. This accessible book explores how mathematical analysis of circles, from ancient times to the modern day, has contributed enormously to our knowledge of the physical universe.

314, the St. Louis Area Code

60 Hikes Within 60 Miles St. Louis by Steve Henry
March 14th is also a local holiday (of sorts) for St. Louisans, as 314 is the most common phone number area code in the city. Although the library has lots of books about the history of St. Louis (that you should also check out), with spring coming there is no better time to explore some of the many parks in and around the city!

Pie (The Dessert)

What’s for Dessert : Simple Recipes for Dessert People by Claire Saffitz ; photographs by Jenny Huang
That’s me, I’m a dessert person. With simple recipes for all kinds of desserts, including a chapter on “Pies, tarts, cobblers & crisps,” this is one of the many cookbooks in the library. While this is a print book on the library shelves, we also have many e-cookbooks, if you’re worried about getting floury fingerprints on a library book!

More to Read About Pi (The Number)

How to Bake π: An Edible Exploration of the Mathematics of Mathematics by Eugenia Cheng
This is for those of you who love both numbers and desserts. Scholarly, funny, and (above all) tasty, Professor Cheng’s book introduces mathematical logic and category theory to the non-specialist with equations and recipes.

Pi in the Sky: Counting, Thinking, and Being by John D. Barrow
A book that raises almost as many questions as it answers. Is math real? Did humans invent math or discover math? These are just some of the deep questions explored by theoretical physicist and mathematician John D. Barrow in this exhaustive survey of counting, from Mesopotamia to the modern day.