What Is Mathematics? An Elementary Approach to Ideas and Methods: An Elementary Approach to Ideas and Methods (Oxford Paperbacks) Paperback – 18 July 1996

This book is probably my all time favourite mathematics text for introducing undergraduate mathematics. The author is a prolific writer and very engaging. The breadth of topics covered is impressive.

This survey of mathematics as an introduction for a wider public is perhaps the best of its kind. Well illustrated and very accessible.

Not quite what I wanted, but that's my fault - caveat emptor. I'm wanted something on the philosophy of maths, but this is basically a maths textbook, although it is much more discursive than the ones I remember from school and is quite a good read. Early on, the authors put me in my place by remarking that the mathematical object "exhausts itself in the totality of its possible relations with the perceiver [and although] these relations must be co-ordinated with the thing in itself" further speculation on this point can be let to the philosophers. Nevertheless it is a beautiful book and I shall keep it as a handy reference to the subject. I have one criticism, which is that the text dates from 1941 but recent developments are set out in an appendix written by Ian Stewart in 1996. It would have been useful to have the main text marked-up to show where there is further matter in the appendix.

son of famous father, nd it shows, you need to be a mathematician but it could convert some who are scared

A classic - but still highly enjoyable introduction to basic concepts and ideas in Mathematics. This revised version includes interesting updates by I. Stewart.

A classic text, full of interesting stuff and very good wider reading for any mathematician.

This is a good book if you have a good level of mathematics knowledge already. The book is for university student, not for a high school student.

All ok

This book is like discussing with an old friend about mathematics. Whenever I come back to this book, I learn something new and I understand math a little better. This book will teach you advanced concepts and theorems. It does not have the wording of an average textbook. It feels like you are having an intellectual debate. Trivia: Albert Einstein read the first edition of this book.

El libro es estupendo pero, la tipografía no es muy legible, principalmente donde hay ecuaciones, no se si los reescribieron, en algunos lados pésimamente interpretados confunden el 8 con una s, en fín creo que deberia de haberlo comprado empastado, in clusive el kindle deforma mucho este tipo de documentos matemáticos, les recomiendo comprar mejor la edición empastada.

Great book

Well organised and to the point

Gran libro para los que nos gusta la matematica.