An inclusive vision of mathematics—its beauty, its humanity, and its power to build virtues that help us all flourish. For mathematician Francis Su, a society without mathematical affection is like a city without concerts, parks, or museums. To miss out on mathematics is to live without experiencing some of humanity’s most beautiful ideas. In this profound book, written for a wide audience but especially for those disenchanted by their past experiences, an award†‘winning mathematician and educator weaves parables, puzzles, and personal reflections to show how mathematics meets basic human desires—such as for play, beauty, freedom, justice, and love—and cultivates virtues essential for human flourishing. These desires and virtues, and the stories told here, reveal how mathematics is intimately tied to being human. Some lessons emerge from those who have struggled, including philosopher Simone Weil, whose own mathematical contributions were overshadowed by her brother’s, and Christopher Jackson, who discovered mathematics as an inmate in a federal prison. Christopher’s letters to the author appear throughout the book and show how this intellectual pursuit can—and must—be open to all.
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The message of the book is this: the “proper practice of mathematics cultivates virtues that help people flourish” (p. 10). Su disputes the misconception that mathematics is just a tool; rather, he powerfully demonstrates that it is for human flourishing, just like music and art are, nurturing virtues. He writes, “The skills society needs from math may change, but the virtues needed from math will not” (p. 11). He heavily criticizes both the outdated math curricula and pedagogy.
He describes “math explorers,” which could, in his opinion, be all humans. He stresses creativity, imagination, abstraction (p. 43), fun, joy, beauty, struggle, and reflection. These virtues then become the outline of the entire book. Chapters have titles like “permanence,” “truth,” “justice,” and “freedom.”
He also has a plenty of personal stories, including how he discovered he was adopted, his recent marriage, growing up as a Chinese American in Texas, being the first person of color to lead the MAA (the title “Finally, An Asian Guy Who’s Good at Math” is hilarious, p. 154).
A photo of Francis Su and Christopher Jackson, taken in prison (p. 221), is also inspirational.
Throughout the book, there are very interesting math questions and puzzles that encourage critical thinking. My favorites include ants on a log, 100 lightbulbs, and 5 points on the sphere.
Each chapter in the book explores important concepts and how he sees math contributing to these areas and thus, benefiting humanity. He extends his hope to expand human flourishing through improvements in teaching math as well. From pages 207-208, “Too often, those of us who teach math professionally say, “My job is to teach math,” as if teaching math were only about teaching facts and procedures. We forget that “my job is to teach people” whose experiences often intersect with mathematics in completely different ways than our own experiences do. And that means education has to take into account the whole person…”
In addition to each topical chapter, there is an ongoing conversation between the author and an inmate, Chris, who has been studying math from prison. Over time they develop a friendship and excerpts from their correspondence are included in each chapter to illustrate how mathematics is helping Christ to flourish despite his situation. There is also a math puzzle or two in each chapter to challenge the reader to be a math explorer.
I would recommend this book to those who wonder why schools should teach more advanced math courses and encourage everyone to look for the math behind technology, medicine, communication, and everything which leads to human flourishing.
Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the book is the letter writing between the author and a prisoner. I don't think Su could have had a better object lesson the Chris (the prisoner). Remarkably, each letter seemed to summarize the point that Su wanted to make, and the letters were written before the book came into existence. The book would be well worth reading even if it was just the letters.
Anyone who wants to gain a broad sense of what mathematics is all about, or more importantly, anyone who wants to understand how to flourish in life: read this book!
Dr. Francis Su has written this profoundly intriguing and beautiful tribute to math, intertwined with personal stories and his friendship with Christopher Jackson, an inmate in Kentucky. I picked up the book at the recommendation of a dear friend, who is a math teacher, and finished reading it with not only more love for the mathematical way of thinking and life, but also self-discovery and a stronger sense of obligation that our society needs more curious minds and deeper love for math.
Who would've known math could be so joyful?
Grateful for this transformative book.
A fantastic balance of inspiration, intrigue, compassion, and curiosity.
Everyone is trying to find their path and Francis shows that mathematical reasoning and exploration can be a tool to actualize our truest flourishing and virtue along that path.
I can't wait to share this book with all of my students, friends, family, and colleagues.