As a mathematics PhD candidate, I evidently am aware of the elegance of the subject, so a lot of the description was not new to me. I think this would've been really helpful to have as a companion for advice over the various stages of my education. It struck me about halfway through how Letters to a Young Mathematician his whole experience has been. Mathematician Ian Stewart tells readers what he wishes he had known when he was a student. Letters to a young mathematician is a series of epistles to an up and coming yet fictitious mathematician. I'm starting a PhD in a few months (in the vaguely related field of AI), so especially the last chapters were insightful on a very practical level: Ian talks about the ups and downs of academia and how to navigate it. Stuart G. About Letters To A Young Mathematician Writer Get A Copy. I enjoyed this book. [4]. There are some very good lines about what math is and what it means to pursue it, as one would expect in a book based on the premise of giving advice to a mathematician just starting out. US$ 39.95. The book is written in a nice polish style, with a lot of examples and precious personal experiences as well as good advices. Meg is indeed, not real. Letters to a Young Mathematician by Ian Stewart. A book of letters from a famous mathematician to his fictional (?) Mathematician Ian Stewart tells … There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Lovely read to prepare the early mathematician for the future. Stewart did a great job in casually describing (to "Meg") what to expect in the life of a mathematician (in academia), as well as the splendor of mathematics. 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 … Letters to a Young Mathematician is a 2006 book by Ian Stewart, and is part of Basic Books' Art of Mentoring series. All the 21 letters start with 'Dear Meg.' “I'm in a weird place because the book is about to come out. ), but it's definitely one that I would use quotations from if I ever went back to teaching in a math classroom. ... Young Mathematician; Realistic Kind; Access options Buy single article. The book is made up of letters to a fictional correspondent of Stewart's, an aspiring mathematician named Meg. I basically devoured it. Meg is supposed to be the niece of a factitious mathematician writing the letters. [Audiobook] The book was very easy to follow and listen to on the side while talking a walk. I assigned this book to my Trig class, and they responded mostly well to it. Certain topics are discussed in greater depth and detail than others allowing for Stewart's immense mathematical knowledge and ingenious modus operandi to shine through. A series of letters to (a fictional?) LETTERS TO A YOUNG MATHEMATICIAN IAN STEWART The pursuit of mathematics as a profession, unlike that of law or medicine, is an underappreciated endeavor, writes Stewart, a professor of mathematics. Letters to a Young Mathematician portrays the life of a mathematician to a hypothetical young woman pursuing a career as a mathematician. Start by marking “Letters to a Young Mathematician” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Ian's entusiasm for the beauty of maths, its societal role, communication of maths and academic collaboration further inspired me to deeply think about the world and work on research. Certain topics are discussed in greater depth and detail than others allowing for Stewart's immense mathematical knowledge and ingenious modus operandi to shine through. Definitely recommended! Stay away from things that do not interest you.”, “Math is a product of human minds but not bendable to human will”, Peano Prize for Best Popular Mathematics or Science Books (2006), See 1 question about Letters to a Young Mathematician…, Lauren Hough on Leaving Cults, the Military, and Bad Jobs. Not my typical read, though. Folks who are math-oriented in some way or interested in research may enjoy it as well. YES I have read and accept the Terms and Conditions. Certain topics are discussed in greater depth and detail than others allowing for Stewart's immense mathematical knowledge and ingenious modus operandi to shine through. Letters to a young mathematician is a series of epistles to an up and coming yet fictitious mathematician. Refresh and try again. What I really REALLY liked was how the book described the beauty of mathematics in its own right, as well as the beauty of its applications in the real world. "If you publish nothing for five years and then solve the Poincaré conjecture, you'll be set for life, assuming you are allowed to keep your job while you are doing it. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published Some parts of this book made me want to go back and take more math classes; others just made me want to be friends with Ian Stewart! This new entry in the Art of Mentoring series takes the form of letters from a fictitious mathematician to his niece. If you publish nothing for five years and then fail to solve the Poincaré conjecture, you'll be out on your ear. I'm starting a PhD in a few months (in the vaguely related field of AI), so especially the last chapters were insightful on a very practical level: Ian talks about the ups and downs of academia and how to navigate it. It gives an insight of becoming and being mathematicians and it's inspiring. Being no mathematician myself (and certainly lacking in talent), I don't think I have ever been this engrossed in reading a book about math. Share. I assigned this book to my Trig class, and they responded mostly well to it. The book will appeal more to existing mathematicians rather than to wannabes... where the thrill, exhilaration and beauty of mathematics an. The book is a collection of response letters arranged in chronological order. But the whole book was very insightful to contextualize mathematics in society, education and philosophy of science. April 1st 2006 It's the ideas, the generalities, the hidden flashes of insight, the realization that trying to trisect an angle..." (p. 9), This book offers an insight into academics, explaining culture and customs of the mathematical community. But it's never too late to begin. Lots of people may not realize that math is EVERYWHERE (from the arrangements of an atom, to the biology of animals, to the automobiles we use, to the everyday electronics we cannot live without, etc.). Letters to a young mathematician is a series of epistles to an up and coming yet fictitious mathematician. I already knew more how "real maths" works than most people, so some ins. With this collection of letters Ian Stewart, accomplished mathematician, science writer, and even science fiction writer, accompanies a young and imaginary student on her path to becoming a professional mathematician. Letters to a Young Mathematician (Art of Mentoring) by Ian Stewart and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at AbeBooks.com. But the whole book was very insightful to contextualize mathematics in society, education and philosophy of science. I liked this book, because it points out a lot of things people don't realize about math. I hope to adapt portions of this book for future classes, especially the sections on learning math and teaching math. Letters to a Young Mathematician; Ian Stewart; Page: 221; Format: pdf, ePub, mobi, fb2; ISBN: 9780465082315 In all reality, I'll never be a professional or academic mathematician (it occasionally sounds appealing in theory, but I really don't think I would enjoy it), but I very much appreciated the view of mathematics that is presented within this book and wish that others could learn to see the field in a similar light. He is best known for his popular science writing on mathematical themes. 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. In the end of this book, I wish I would have known this book when I started college. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Name Review Subject Required. Letters to a Young Mathematician succeeds well in opening a door into the world of mathematics and enticing the reader inside. The funniest part is that they were surprised to find that Meg wasn't real. It was humorous and educational. The book is rife with stories and urban legends of mathematicians through history and really goes to show what a profession in mathematics can be like. This little book really is a page turner. “Unless you are genuinely interested in working with someone, don't. Conscious work on a problem. "Letters to a Young Mathematician tells readers what Ian Stewart wishes he had known when he was a student. [3] A review in Nature was harsher, however, saying that "there is a general lack of information ... [and] too much jargon" and that it "suffers from being written entirely for a US audience", but even this review finds a bright note, "The letter in which Stewart tells Meg how to teach undergraduates should be compulsory reading for all lecturers and tutors." You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Here he provides advice to students who nevertheless see math as their calling. The letters span a period of 20 years, from the time the niece is thinking abou Pretty good, comprehensive summary of what being a mathematician is about. 2) What being a mathematician is like. It doesn't matter how big an expert they are, or how much grant money the project would bring in. The author draws on his own experience as a mathematician to regal his readers with stories from his life but also some useful insights into just what the life of a mathamatician entails. -"Then there's the inner beauty of mathematics, which should not be underrated. The main strength of Ian Stewart’s book is the way he addresses these questions in an entertaining manner. This little book really is a page turner. 1) Is mathematics a worthwhile career? I favored how this book is not written TO mathematicians, but to to ANYONE who is interested in mathematics altogether, and/or the life of a mathematician. In fact, I believe anyone can devour it: there are no exotic symbols or scary formulas to put one off; the focus is on the humanistic side rather than the technical side; the book reads almost like a story as the imagined "Meg" (to which the book is supposed to be addressed) grows from a curious youngster to an established mathematician. Stewart truly depicted how remarkable the subject is, which was great reading in one paperback. Mathematician Ian Stewart tells readers what he wishes he had known when he was a student. The first scientific entry in the acclaimed Art of Mentoring series from Basic Books. The book will appeal more to existing mathematicians rather than to wannabes... where the thrill, exhilaration and beauty of mathematics and the mathematical ordeal is often lacking. Comments Required. By (author) Ian Stewart. If you find yourself in a similar position, the book will no doubt be helpful. Math done "for its own sake" can be exquisitely beautiful and elegant. On top of all that, Professor Ian Stewart (author) provides quite a bit of interesting inside information about the field, and doesn't forget to use humour to engage the reader. 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 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. I would recom-mend it to those curious about mathematics and life as a mathematician, particularly high school students and undergraduates considering further This new entry in the Art of Mentoring series takes the form of letters from a fictitious mathematician to his niece. I already knew more how "real maths" works than most people, so some insights on what university-level maths looks like are probably more enlightening to others. honestly so long ago, all i remember is it was inspiring. This worked well as a launching point into discovering math all around, and the students still mention how math is everywhere, much to their chagrin/surprise! At parts, it would be too complicated for a "non math" person to enjoy. We’d love your help. Could have gone deeper in the technical aspects. ), but it's definitely one that I would use quotations from if I ever went back to teaching in a math classroom. 3) What type of jobs/careers are available? Letters to a Young Mathematician ( ISBN 0-465-08231-9) is a 2006 book by Ian Stewart, and is part of Basic Books' Art of Mentoring series. Stewart mentions in the preface that he considers this book an update to G.H. Immediate online access to all issues from 2019. Unreliable citations may be challenged or deleted. Price includes VAT for USA. OK,I was out of my element here.My math teacher lend me the book and though it's recommended to high school students but I think if you're a high school student should really like maths and you read books about them then you should read this.I as mostly romance reader couldn't exactly follow the idea of the book because it's plotless.Stewart just talks about maths all by himself.It might had helped if Meg's letters were also inside the book since sometime he answered things to her that I did not knew she had asked.If you like maths you will find this book interesting.If you want to read about maths but you're a newbie I would suggest to start with another book before you read this. I'm not quite sure when I picked up this book (or if it was possibly a gift at some point? This worked well as a launching point into discovering math all around, and the students still mention how math is everywhere, much to their chagrin/surprise! My brother gave me a few of his books, when I was a kid in the hopes I would not be innumerate. I basically devoured it. Fernando Q. Gouvêa's review for the MAA calls it "full of good advice, much of it direct and to the point" and later, that "while it won't change the world, it may well help some young people decide to be (or not to be) mathematicians." It was particularly neat to see the progression across time - how the advice changed as opportunities changed. Letters to a young mathematician. Subscribe to journal. It was particularly neat to see the progression across time - how the advice changed as opportunities changed and to understand the growth and changing circumstances of the fictional Meg without ever actually hearing from her. To the reader that Meg was n't real the whole book was very easy to follow and listen to the. Or over their head, but it 's inspiring wishes he had known when he was student! 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