Thu, 01 Jun 2006
Letters to a young mathematician
Ian Stewart, Letters to a Young Mathematician,
Basic Books
Ian Stewart is a professor of mathematics at Warwick
University in the UK and was formerly a Scientific American
columnist. In this book he adresses a series of letters to
a young woman who, at first, is asking about becoming
a mathematician and, later, while at university, needs some
mentoring.
Questions such as 'what is mathematics?' and "what is it
good for?' are answered at length in a plainly understandable
language and in terms that are sometimes slightly ingenious.
The author loves his subject and the joy of it percolates
through every word he says.
Obviously, people thinking of taking up mathematics seriously
could benefit from this book but also those who are forever
decrying higher learning of any sort as being impractical
and a waste of time -- not that they will read it.
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pre Dec 04 reviews are here
