Reddit reviews Measurement

Try reading Paul Lockhart’s book Measurement. It tries to reprise high school mathematics in a more interesting/philosophical way, and has some fun problems you might try to solve.

This is incredibly on-topic:

Remember Paul Lockhart of “Lockhart’s Lament” fame? (If not: Let’s just say: IMHO, he hits the nail that is your problem right on its head.)

Well, I mailed him back then, and he promised us a book, to teach one how to think like a mathematician. A “textbook” to finally get rid of that nightmare that you, me, and so many others described, and learn math the right way.

Well, last week he e-mailed me (and many others), that his book is done!

http://www.amazon.com/Measurement-Paul-Lockhart/dp/0674057554/

Here’s the original e-mail:

> Dear Readers of A Mathematician's Lament,

> I wanted to let you know that I have a new book out called Measurement. This is my attempt to explain and illustrate, in an honest and heartfelt way, what it is that mathematicians do and why we do it. On one level, you could say that the book is about geometry and analysis, viewed from a modern mathematical perspective, along with natural and (I hope) engaging problems to work on. But really it's a book about me and the way I think, and what it is that I find so beautiful and compelling about math. I would hate for anyone to call it a textbook (it's way too fun), yet, if you want to really understand the mathematics of measurement in a deep and intuitive, intellectually serious way, then this is the book I would recommend. That's why I wrote it: to see if I could. I'm sure there are ways in which I have failed in the book to get across what I wanted to say, but overall I think I did a pretty good job conveying how I think and feel about mathematics, in what I hope is a refreshing new way---just really being me, and speaking to you person to person. Anyway, the book is out, and I would be very curious to know what you think of it.

> Yours,

> Paul

P.S.: As far as I can tell, he prefers not to be contacted too much, but to be left alone. I want to respect that. So please don’t do as I did. :)

P.P.S.: Don’t get angry at other mathematicians/engineers, who learned math in the color-by-the-number style. They are also just innocent victims. It’s not their intention to annoy or harm you. Maybe suggesting this book to them can make their lives nicer too. ;)

If you want to see where he went as a means to continue his ideas, try his next book, Measurement.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0674057554

I understand the techniques proposed by Lockhart, and he has a good book out Measurement that illustrates some of his techniques.

I'm trying to address the same problem in a fundamentally different way. There are elements of discovery in my stuff, but it is more focused on presenting the development in a historical context.

Lockhart's method is great for high school students who have a teacher devoted to the method and who is steeped enough in the mathematics to lead the discovery. I think there is value in both.