Searching for a reflective memoir, I perused Ian Stewart’s Letter’s to a Young Mathematician and found some great advice. Stewart writes letters of advice to a fictional “Meg” as she journeys from high school mathematics through work at a University. Stewart has a great writing style and his letters are very personal. He has mild success at being cute and funny. He uses an English vernacular that is not common in the U.S. I actually read this text with a British accent in my head.

“We were all shoving each other around – but it saved my mathematical bacon.”

This is a great example of how nonfiction can be exciting and catchy. I wanted to read more about his experiences. I wanted to keep turning the page. Stewart writes not only of his own experience with mathematics in today’s world, but also of historical mathematicians like Godfrey Hardy and Thomas Midgley, Jr. The book comes with a section of notes and references in the back as well as a blurb about the author. The content was attractive, the style was easy, and the organization was chronological. This will be a great addition to a mathematics library overflowing with exercise and puzzle books. ( )

Short. Informative. The format of quick letters to a student limits the depth and type of information imparted. Since it is meant as information to a general reader, you can't expect too much truly helpful advice. Since it is trying to explain what higher level math is and mathematicians do to a wide audience it ends up being a little too vague. Worth the quick read though. ( )

I was initially wary of the epistolary form of this non-fiction book by the great and incredibly accessible mathematician Ian Stewart. But I am so very glad that I stuck with it . . . it will inform how I look at the process of learning (and teaching)math to Z, who already sees the world in terms of pattern and symmetry. Reading this volume made me realize his gifts and passion in the area of math and put me on notice that I need to make sure to honor them and help them to flourish. Plus, I now know way more about Poincare than before. Will be buying a copy of this for Z as he ages. ( )

Wer sich schon immer gefragt hat, warum gerade Mathematik so wichtig in unserer heutigen Zeit ist und warum man es eventuell studieren sollte, findet in Stewarts Buch vielleicht eine Antwort. In 21 Briefen beantwortet er Fragen der jungen, imaginären, Mathematik interessierten Meg und spannt einen Bogen vom ersten Interesse am Fach zur Festanstellung als Mathematikprofessor.

Er erklärt warum den Mathematikern die Fragen niemals ausgehen werden, wie man als Mathematiker denkt und le(h)r(n)t und warum Computer nicht alle Probleme lösen können. Außerdem erhält man Einblicke in die Arbeitsweisen eines Mathematikers, ihre Gemeinschaft und Zusammenarbeit und man merkt, dass es auch nur Menschen sind - sie machen nur eben mathematische Witze.

This is fairly well written series of letters written to a young girl thinking of a career in mathematics. Over the course of the book, the letters address the satisfactions of mathematics, and the occasional frustrations of those who pursue a career in this field. I breezed through the book, but there were occasional nuggets of insight here and there. It is intended as bringing Godfrey Hardy's book, "A Mathematician's Apology" up to date. ( )