Books — hermiene.net

Letters to a Young Mathematician is written as an update on G. H. Hardy's classic A Mathematician's Apology, but the book is not an exercise in apologetics.

"Attitudes change. No longer do mathematicians believe that they owe the world an apology."

It follows an imaginary girl, Meg, from her school years through her ensuing career, and each chapter is a letter to her at crucial steps in her career. Some parts are musings on math (pure vs applied) while others are specific career tips (solitary work vs collaboration). The book is virtually devoid of any actual math, so I think it's safe for mathophobes. In fact, for this very reason, it might even help to partially cure the phobia of those unfortunately inflicted.

Review:

I really liked the light-hearted way the book is written. Perhaps someone who is planning on embarking on a mathematical career would enjoy it even more.

Has read?

Yes

Debut?

Images:

High-res images:

[Back (3.52 MB)] [Spine (399.86 KB)] [Front (3.56 MB)]

Table of Contents:

[Toggle visibility]

Preface
1 Why Do Math?
2 How I Almost Became a Lawyer
3 The Breadth of Mathematics
4 Hasn't It All Been Done?
5 Surrounded by Math
6 How Mathematicians Think
7 How to Learn Math
8 Fear of Proofs
9 Can't Computers Solve Everything?
10 Mathematical Storytelling
11 Going for the Jugular
12 Blockbusters
13 Impossible Problems
14 The Career Ladder
15 Pure or Applied?
16 Where Do You Get Those Crazy Ideas?
17 How to Teach Math
18 The Mathematical Community
19 Pigs and Pickup Trucks
20 Pleasures and Perils of Collaboration
21 Is God a Mathematician?
Notes and References

Back to Books