Letters to a Young Mathematician

by Ian Stewart

Overview

The first scientific entry in the acclaimed Art of Mentoring series from Basic Books, Letters to a Young Mathematician tells readers what Ian Stewart wishes he had known when he was a student and young faculty member. Subjects ranging from the philosophical to the practical — what mathematics is and why it's worth doing, the relationship between logic and proof, the role of beauty in mathematical thinking, the future of mathematics, how to deal with the peculiarities of the mathematical community, and many others — are dealt with in Stewart's much-admired style, which combines subtle, easygoing humor with a talent for cutting to the heart of the matter. In the tradition of G.H. Hardy's classic A Mathematician's Apology, this book is sure to be a perennial favorite with students at all levels, as well as with other readers who are curious about the frequently incomprehensible world of mathematics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780465082322
Publisher:	Basic Books
Publication date:	03/27/2007
Series:	Art of Mentoring Series
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	1,113,610
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

Ian Stewart is emeritus professor of mathematics at the University of Warwick. His recent books include Calculating the Cosmos, Significant Figures, In Pursuit of the Unknown, and Professor Stewart's Hoard of Mathematical Treasures. He is a fellow of the Royal Society. He lives in Coventry, UK.

Table of Contents

Preface     ix
Why Do Math?     1
How I Almost Became a Lawyer     11
The Breadth of Mathematics     18
Hasn't It All Been Done?     33
Surrounded by Math     45
How Mathematicians Think     53
How to Learn Math     62
Fear of Proofs     71
Can't Computers Solve Everything?     82
Mathematical Storytelling     87
Going for the Jugular     95
Blockbusters     103
Impossible Problems     110
The Career Ladder     122
Pure or Applied?     131
Where Do You Get Those Crazy Ideas?     147
How to Teach Math     157
The Mathematical Community     168
Pigs and Pickup Trucks     178
Pleasures and Perils of Collaboration     188
Is God a Mathematician?     196
Notes and References     205

Editorial Reviews

During his illustrious career, mathematician Ian Stewart has written 140 advanced research papers and six infinitely more interesting books on his specialty, including the justly popular Flatterland. In Letters to a Young Mathematician, he invites us into his mind and his vocation. He explains what mathematicians do and why it is worth doing; discusses the role of beauty in mathematical thinking; talks about the relationship between logic and proof; and speculates about the future of the science of numbers.

This new entry in the Art of Mentoring series takes the form of letters from a fictitious mathematician to his niece. The letters span a period of 20 years, from the time the niece is thinking about studying mathematics in high school through the early years of her academic career. The format works wonderfully to introduce readers to the basics of the discipline of mathematics while providing a sense of what mathematicians actually do. Throughout, the prolific and talented Stewart (Does God Play Dice?), a British mathematician, entertains while educating. He explains how mathematics is so much more than mere calculations and how it's used in almost every facet of our lives. He also discusses the beauty mathematicians can find in the natural world, demonstrating that a focus on numbers and patterns can enhance rather than detract from an aesthetic appreciation of the environment. Stewart also does a superb job of examining the nature and value of both applied research and pure research, which, he shows, are not nearly as disparate as many think. Although the book must be read by anyone thinking about a career in mathematics, others simply interested in learning about the field and how mathematicians think will find it compelling reading. (Apr. 17) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

Stewart (mathematics, Univ. of Warwick; director, Mathematics Awareness Ctr. at Warwick; The Annotated Flatland) has written yet another mathematics popularization, this time in the form of letters to a fictitious mathematician as she progresses from the level of secondary school student to tenured university faculty member. Stewart's purpose is to explain the nature of a mathematician's work, explore some of the many practical applications of "pure" mathematics, and discuss how to teach the subject. This he accomplishes in a set of highly enjoyable chapters without any equations to frighten off his more timorous readers. He sometimes draws on his own experiences as a researcher and teacher to further enliven the narrative, often to humorous effect. This excellent book for introducing lay readers to mathematics as a profession is highly recommended for public and academic libraries. [Letters is the first scientific entry in Basic Books's "Art of Mentoring" series.-Ed.]-Jack W. Weigel, formerly with the Univ. of Michigan Lib., Ann Arbor Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

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