What Is Mathematics? An Elementary Approach to Ideas and Methods

This book is like discussing with an old friend about mathematics. Whenever I come back to this book, I learn something new and I understand math a little better. This book will teach you advanced concepts and theorems. It does not have the wording of an average textbook. It feels like you are having an intellectual debate. Trivia: Albert Einstein read the first edition of this book.

I was already kind of old when I learned about this book, but it still influenced every aspect of my life.These kinds of books teach wisdom, not just the subject in the title. It reveals the beauty of Mathematics and the inconceivable nature of this imperfect world that follows its perfect laws.

Delivery was timely and the condition was excellent. I couldn't be more pleased.

This has become something of a classic work in mathematics. No less a mind than Einstein himself recommended as an easily understandable overview of the entire field of mathematics. And it really is a great book. It’s a little dated in its approach, though a final chapter at the end concerning later developments does bring some of its content up to date, but if you’re looking for a single book to give you a taste of what mathematics is really all about, this would be one of my top several recommendations.It's important to understand what the subtitle means by “elementary approach,” however. This is not elementary in the sense that many people might think. It’s not going to teach you basic arithmetic (which is, alas, all many people seem to know of mathematics). It’s not even going to teach you basic algebra. Indeed, its goal isn’t really to teach you how to DO mathematics of any sort. Instead, it intends to teach you about the breadth of mathematical ideas and methods, and to help you think like a mathematician. It is fairly elementary in the context of serious mathematics. For the most part, it assumes only that you have mastered basic algebra. A few chapters will require you to know how to manipulate the trigonometric functions. But that’s really all you need to be able to follow the book.But at the same time, if you’re a budding mathematician who wants to learn all of the various disciplines it covers—graph theory, topology, calculus, you name it—you’ll need to supplement your education with other books. Its goal is to show you some fascinating results in each field and sort of give you a flavor of what each discipline is all about, not to replace an entire undergraduate degree in mathematics. Think of this as a tasting menu for math.I would. However, highly recommend this for anyone embarking on (or considering) a degree in mathematics. It won’t tell you everything, but it’ll give you a good taste of what you’ll be doing in each course you’re likely to take and will likely put you ahead of the curve in many of them. For everyone else not currently studying mathematics in school, it remains a delightful one-stop-shop for anyone wondering about the kinds of things mathematicians spend their time thinking about.

Excellent read, I had always wondered; and now I know.It’s a total nerd book, if you love math at the conceptual level, enjoy history, and the engineering aspect of how things came to be- this is a great book. I’m a network engineer, wife turned me on to this book from her college days - she was a math major. Well written, decently paced given the subject matter, and enlightening.If none of the above interests you, the book may also be used as a soporific.

This is like a mathematics bible!!! It touches on subjects that I have learned as a math major throughout my college career. It is also an easy read and I love how it contains exercises throughout the reading. If you are looking for a math book to refresh your mind on some content, then this is the book for you as well!!!

Content: 5/5Physical copy: 1/5I own the paperback 1996 second edition from Oxford University Press, which was $15. Though the price is awesome for the amount of knowledge you get in this book, the print quality is not. It appears that the book is simply photocopied from an earlier edition. The margins are crooked from page to page, the weight of the font varies between lines, and the smaller size type kind of blots together which makes it difficult to read. Most importantly, I've found several places where small parts of notation are missing or cut off, probably from the photocopy not picking it up.Overall, this is a wonderful book for anyone curious about serious math. It's cheap though, perhaps too cheap. It's due for a new typesetting in a new edition, even if it raises the price to $25-30. It might be better to look for an old hardcover of the book, even if it costs more than a new paperback.

After reading this:"It doesn't matter what mathematical things are: it's what they do that counts. Thus mathematics hovers uneasily between the real and the not real; its meaning does not reside in formal abstractions, but neither is it tangible. This may cause problems with philosophers who like tidy categories, but it is the great strength of mathematics -- what I have elsewhere called its 'unreal reality.' Mathematics links the abstract world of mental concepts to the real world of physical things without being located completely in either." - Ian Stewart, What is Mathematics?...I was hooked and after reading it several times, I still can't put it down! Great job to all who contributed to creating this masterpiece.