Mathematics for the Nonmathematician
by Morris Kline · first published 1985
86% recommend14% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Narrative history of mathematics that traces how each idea was discovered, giving historical context and basic proofs; suits self-learners and adults wanting to revisit high-school math with motivation.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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A good entry point are one of these books which start from the very beginning of math in Egypt/Greece and teach the fundamentals of math through a narrative as humans discovered the various parts: "Mathematics for the Nonmathematician" https://www.amazon.com/Mathematics-Nonmathematician-Morris-K... or "Mathematics for the Million" https://www.amazon.com/Mathematics-Million-Master-Magic-Numb... Of the two I prefered Kline's book…
on “Georgia Tech's free math textbook collective” ↗There's an author Morris Kline who wrote a number of fairly useful books on mathematics. Particularly worth mentioning are Mathematics for the Nonmathematician and Calculus: An Intuitive and Physical Approach. The former traces through the history of mathematics and places each of the math discoveries in their proper context. The latter covers most of the…
on “Learning Math” ↗In the course of my self-education I've come across a number of interesting books for mathematics. My two favorites: - Practical Mathematics by C. I. Palmer - Mathematics for the Nonmathematician by Morris Kline Practical Mathematics is an old book, first published in the early nineteen hundreds. It covers everything beginning with multiplication to advanced algebra and trig. It uses practical…
on “Ask HN: the road to learning useful math” ↗…as you and endeavored to improve my mathematical skills in a self directed manner. "Practical Mathematics", C. I. Palmer (great for practice and learning your stuff in a framework that isn't boring) "Mathematics for the Nonmathematician", Morris Kline (great for staying inspired, it teaches a lot of history with good exercises) This website also has some great recommendations for books: http://math-blog.com/2007/07/17/ten-must-read-books-about-ma...…
on “I don't know mathematics, I want to learn it, where to begin?” ↗You may enjoy Mathematics for the Nonmathematician by Kline: http://www.amazon.com/Mathematics-Nonmathematician-Dover-Boo... I have not read it, but I have heard it recommended many times by knowledgeable educators.
on “Great books about mathematics” ↗I really like the Dover book Mathematics for the Nonmathematician by Morris Kline. It adds historical perspective, makes you think, and teaches basic and understandable proofs.
on “You never did math in high school” ↗I recently read mathematics for the nonmathematician. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/281821.Mathematics_for_t... Although the math in the book is relatively basic I enjoyed it tremendously because it gives the historical development for everything…
on “The Lost Art of Logarithms” ↗I was going to say the same! I got it years ago, it's hard to top a math book with a quote from a certain Al Einstein on the back cover singing its praises! Morris Kline's "Mathematics for the Nonmathematician" takes a similar approach, as I believe other books by the author do. Can also recommend "Code" by Charles Petzold and "The Information" by James Gleick, while not comprehensive they do cover the development…
on “The Lost Art of Logarithms” ↗Mathematics for the Nonmathematician https://www.amazon.com/dp/0486248232
on “Ask HN: Are there books for mathematics like Feynman's lectures on physics?” ↗What are you using to self-educate? I'm kind of doing the same. I decided to start with "Mathematics for the Nonmathematician", which so far is good (only on chapter 3 though). Someone in the comments shared https://betterexplained.com/ - which I hadn't heard of and looks great.
on “The Math Myth” ↗…Learning also requires motivation, which for me personally requires seeing the big picture of why the math theory matters and how it was developed. Read the NYTimes series by Steven Strogatz. I also like “Mathematics for the Nonmathematician” for an overview of HS-level math that weaves in historical context (e.g. how Renaissance art or agriculture and mathematics are intertwined). Watch some YouTube videos on mathy subjects (like Numberphile…
on “Ask HN: Best way to relearn basic math?” ↗I didn't develop a love for mathematics until I picked up Mathematics for the Nonmathematician at my local library. Having some historical context to what we were learning would have had a more profound impact on me during high school.
on “Do Teachers Need to Include the History of Mathematics in Their Teaching? (2003)” ↗I’m a fan of Mathematics for the Nonmathematician [1] [1] https://a.co/d/grHB5he
on “Why is the state of mathematics education so abstract and uninspiring?” ↗…focused on real-world use (so, yes, it wouldn't be "real" mathematics). That's the math education I'd like—try as I might, I just can't make myself care even a little about math for math's sake. I've got Mathematics for the Nonmathematician by Kline and that's kinda heading the right way, but what about whole courses of study? More books? It's more of an introduction than a thorough resource or course, and feels like it needs another four…
on “So you want to study mathematics” ↗Another book similar to Morris Kline's _Mathematics for the Nonmathematician_, which the OP mentioned, is Lancelot Hogben's _Mathematics for the Million_. Originally published in 1937, it has been in print ever since, through several revisions. This also takes a historical approach,…
on “Mathematics for the Adventurous Self-Learner” ↗