5 Terrific Books That Can Make You Fall In Love With Math

1. The Hidden Maths of Everyday Life by Jordan Ellenberg

 Quote to think about:

“A basic rule of mathematical life: if the universe hands you a hard problem, try to solve an easier one instead, and hope the simple version is close enough to the original problem that the universe doesn’t object.”

Ellenberg shows how wrong you are when considering math as nothing but a dull set of rules to learn at school. Mathematics touches everything we do. It allows us to see the hidden structures underneath the chaotic surface of this world.

Armed with math, you can see the true meaning of information. This book provides insights to encourage your clear thinking about different areas of life. As the author says, doing math is like being “touched by fire and bound by reason. Logic forms a narrow channel through which intuition flows with vastly augmented force.”

2. A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar

Quote to think about:

“I’ve made the most important discovery of my life. It’s only in the mysterious equation of love that any logic or reasons can be found.”

Big chances are, you’ve watched the eponymous movie already. It is a biographical story of John Nash, one of the most brilliant mathematicians and a Nobel prize winner who suffered from schizophrenia. Despite that, he was able to elaborate on the game theory underpinning a large part of economics.

Sylvia Nasar describes John’s life, giving an interesting exposition of his mathematical ideas. His struggle with the disease and input in science deserve mentions and respect.

3. The Man Who Loved Only Numbers by Paul Hoffman

Quote to think about:

“No news is ever as good or as bad as it first seems.”

This book is a kind of the biographical story of Paul Erdős, a mathematician who lived and loved nothing but his subject. It consists of Erdo˝s quotations or paraphrases, which help readers understand his care and affection with everything related to math.

Paul Erdős loved to invent jokes, so you would definitely not be bored while reading the story about this interesting personality.

4. A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

Quote to think about:

“What did God do before he created the universe?”

Don’t say you never heard of the author and the book itself!

First published in 1988, this work has become a classic of scientific writing already. Professor Hawking tells about the origins and nature of our universe as well as predicts its further development.

5. Journey through Genius by William Dunham

Quote to think about:

“One of the genuine attractions of number theory is that conjectures simple enough to be understood by elementary school students nonetheless have been immune to the efforts of generations of the world’s best mathematicians.”

If you don’t believe that math theorems can be creative, this book is your must-read. The author takes each theorem and places it within the historical context.

😊Thank you😊