The book is quite basic. Don't expect to get much out of it if you have a STEM degree.
ballmerpoint 3 hours ago [-]
It is still good as a book on philosophy of mathematics. Not the best, perhaps, but a solid introduction.
black_knight 1 hours ago [-]
Like, the epistemology and metaphysics of mathematics? That kind of philosophy? Realism, idealism and all that jazz?
ballmerpoint 1 hours ago [-]
Nothing so esoteric — it’s written for the popular audience. But there’s a lot of “what is mathematics?” or “how do we do mathematics?” Some random highlights:
> A big part of mathematical training is becoming acquainted with different concepts and recognizing how they’re cousins to each other.
> I encourage everyone to fool around with numbers—some enthusiasts discover important patterns that way, and some famous mathematicians, like the late John Conway, made a career of it.
> When we give word problems in school, we tend to cherry-pick perfect models that have one correct answer. Rather than teach a preordained procedure, we could encourage exploration by asking students to fix more realistic models where things are slightly noisy or slightly incorrect.
sanderjd 1 hours ago [-]
I'm hoping my kids will get a lot out of it as they grow up :)
caaqil 4 hours ago [-]
> The book is quite basic.
Perplexing how it's on the front page then given the background of the median HN user (presumably technical with some STEM background in general, some pure VC bros peppered in etc).
The Tao love conquers all, as it were.
golly_ned 3 hours ago [-]
I enjoy reading less technical books even on technical topics I know about. They serve a different purpose.
calebkaiser 3 hours ago [-]
Eh, I just like reading new books on mathematics, even if they're covering well trod ground. I think a lot of people in math are like this. I'm not endlessly grinding through introductory textbooks, but there is something nice about seeing someone brilliant give their take on something fundamental. And the cultural differences you get in reading different texts from different periods or from different authors is really stimulating, for me at least.
EA-3167 3 hours ago [-]
[flagged]
BeetleB 2 hours ago [-]
HN guidelines:
> Be kind. Don't be snarky.
EA-3167 2 hours ago [-]
I'm not talking to another member or referring to a particular comment, I'm making a brief comment by analogy regarding a pair of public figures who profit from their notoriety.
Moreover I was accurate, unless your idea of kindness is to imply that comparison to a success physicist is "unkind".
globalnode 3 hours ago [-]
im not pro-ai-bro but i gotta say some of the maths involved is pretty cool
EA-3167 2 hours ago [-]
That math isn't being discussed here, it's barely even discussed in the book! Frankly how often do you open an HN thread on the front page and see any significant technical discussion of anything other than coding? I find the times I see someone writing out equations and discussing fundamentals so rare and welcome as to be memorable.
Most conversation here is profoundly non-technical and never touches anything like "the math".
TIL about Quanta Books, thanks OP — will be checking this out! :D
copperlist 4 hours ago [-]
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aaron695 4 hours ago [-]
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slwvx 2 hours ago [-]
The "algebra excerpt" [1] doesn't impress me at all. Sure, maybe equations intimidate some, but why not add some images or figures? Is that page really one of the six chapters, or is it 1/10 of a chapter?
[1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/0374621799?tag=macmillan-20
1. numbers as the gateway to quantitative thinking
2. algebra as the gateway to abstraction
3. geometry as a way to calculate beyond what we can see
4. probability as a tool to navigate uncertainty with rigorous thinking
5. analysis as a means to tame the very large or the very small
6. dynamics as the mathematics of change
Terence Tao explains 6 essential mathematical concepts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOMx2BHHWtE
> A big part of mathematical training is becoming acquainted with different concepts and recognizing how they’re cousins to each other.
> I encourage everyone to fool around with numbers—some enthusiasts discover important patterns that way, and some famous mathematicians, like the late John Conway, made a career of it.
> When we give word problems in school, we tend to cherry-pick perfect models that have one correct answer. Rather than teach a preordained procedure, we could encourage exploration by asking students to fix more realistic models where things are slightly noisy or slightly incorrect.
Perplexing how it's on the front page then given the background of the median HN user (presumably technical with some STEM background in general, some pure VC bros peppered in etc).
The Tao love conquers all, as it were.
> Be kind. Don't be snarky.
Moreover I was accurate, unless your idea of kindness is to imply that comparison to a success physicist is "unkind".
Most conversation here is profoundly non-technical and never touches anything like "the math".
TIL about Quanta Books, thanks OP — will be checking this out! :D
Is this a book for children?
[1] https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/six-math-essentials-b...