Good science or math books to read

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for science and math books that can be read leisurely. Participants share various titles and express differing opinions on what constitutes leisurely reading in the context of mathematics and science literature.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest "Real and Complex Analysis" by Rudin as a leisurely read, while others express skepticism about its suitability for casual reading.
  • Hardy's "Apology" and Feynman's lectures are recommended for their engaging content.
  • Books like "Geometry and the Imagination" by Hilbert and "Visual Complex Analysis" are proposed as enjoyable reads.
  • Courant and Robbins' "What Is Mathematics?" and Stillwell's "Mathematics and Its History" are mentioned as accessible and enjoyable options.
  • Some participants highlight the importance of context in defining leisurely reading, with suggestions like "Fermat's Enigma" and "The Princeton Companion to Mathematics" for more casual engagement.
  • There are mentions of various other titles, including "Mathematics: A Very Short Introduction" and "Thirty Years that Shook Physics," which are noted for their readability.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on what constitutes leisurely reading, with no consensus on specific titles. Some titles are repeatedly suggested, while others are contested regarding their suitability for casual reading.

Contextual Notes

Participants have differing interpretations of "leisurely," which affects their recommendations. Some books are considered rigorous, while others are viewed as more accessible, leading to varied suggestions based on personal preferences.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in mathematics and science literature, particularly those looking for enjoyable and accessible reading material in these fields.

cs23
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Can anyone recommend any material to read leisurely?
 
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"Real and complex analysis" by Rudin.

OK, just ignore me :biggrin:
 
Hmm...Not sure what you mean by 'leisurely'. But I'd suggest go read Hardy's Apology if you haven't read it. (Snow's foreword actually made me cry...). You can also watch the seven lectures Feynman gave at Cornell. I already watched them like 10 times..

Oh and of course, "GEB".
 
Last edited:
micromass said:
"Real and complex analysis" by Rudin.

OK, just ignore me :biggrin:


Oh, that's evil! :biggrin:
 
Geometry and the Imagination ~ Hilbert
 
three dimensional geometry and topology by william thurston., vol. 1.
 
micromass said:
"Real and complex analysis" by Rudin.

OK, just ignore me :biggrin:


hahahahaha
 
Maybe "Visual Complex Analysis"?
 
These are real math books that also happen to be good leisure reading in my opinion:

Courant and Robbins, What Is Mathematics?
Stillwell, Mathematics and Its History

Here are some less rigorous ones which I've enjoyed:

Dunham, Euler: Master of Us All
Simmons, Calculus Gems
 
  • #10
micromass said:
"Real and complex analysis" by Rudin.
I'll meet your Rudin and up the ante by one Lang's Algebra.

http://101usesforlang.com/

:-P

(I don't know any cartoons based on the Bourbaki textbooks).
 
  • #11
Mathematics: A Very Short Introduction - Timothy Gowers
 
  • #12
Hmmm, as much as I respect Papa Rudin, I'd recommend the Princeton Companion to Mathematics, or Mathematics from the Birth of Numbers for more casual reading. Any of the volumes of Dover's The World of Mathematics are also very good. Slightly thinner books I'd suggest are Gleick's Genius book about Feynman, Thirty Years that Shook Physics by Gamow, and maybe Kidder's Soul of A New Machine.
 
  • #13
jbunniii said:
Courant and Robbins, What Is Mathematics?

"The Feynman Lectures on Physics" and this^^! I really enjoyed "What is Mathematics" as some casual reading and it's very accessible.

Also a good text on mathematical reasoning is essential.
 
  • #14
What do you mean by leisurely? Studying at your own pace, or recreational reading?

One of my favorite math books is Fermat's Enigma, by Simon Singh. It's very accessible, compelling, and educational. It covers a lot of ground in mathematical history as it tells the story of how mathematicians over the years chipped away at the problem of Fermat's Last Theorem, until Andrew Wiles finally came up with a complete proof.
 
  • #15
espen180 said:
Maybe "Visual Complex Analysis"?
That was going to be my suggestion.
 
  • #16
Concepts of Modern Mathematics by Ian Stewart
 
  • #18
geometry and the imagination, by hilbert and cohn vossen. but do not read anything by rudin, unless you are very unusual.
 

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