Letters to a Young Mathematician
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Synopsis
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.
Table of contents
- 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