What do mathematicians think of themselves, and what do others think of them? These musings, the theme of a special session at the San Jose MathFest of 2007, resonate with a large and diverse group of mathematicians and students, for these are the questions that govern the way that mathematicians live. A large and diverse group of mathematicians and mathematical people were assembled to offer their views on these matters. The contributions represent a vast array of perspectives on the psychology of the mathematician. It is hoped that readers will find the thoughts assembled here stimulating and cause for further rumination.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
...Any mathematician or prospective mathematician reading this book will find much to admire therein, much to question, and much about which to reminisce. As I read, I could not help but think of my early days learning how to add integers up through twenty, and later on in graduate school, the varieties of instruction encountered, the joy of collaboration with another like mind, and more recently, the many math manuscript rejections received, and a few that were accepted. All in all, this collection of essays will be a valued resource in the continuing discussion of characterizing mathematicians and mathematical communities." - Andrew James Simoson, Mathematical Reviews Clippings
"...The authors offer both humor and somber revelations about the profession to which they have devoted their lives, providing a better understanding and new perspectives of a profession often viewed as beyond the abilities of most students. The book as a whole satisfies by presenting many sides of a topic, thus appealing to a wide range of readers. Some of the essays are very math heavy and appeal to more scholarly readers, whereas others contain very little math and are more anecdotal. Some responses seem overly critical of those outside the profession, but these are balanced by humorous presentations in which the authors laugh at themselves and their own quirks. The diversity of the writing offers a little something for everyone." - Mathematics Teacher
Reihe
Sprache
Verlagsort
Zielgruppe
Produkt-Hinweis
Maße
Höhe: 255 mm
Breite: 179 mm
Dicke: 15 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-0-88385-585-0 (9780883855850)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Herausgeber*in
University of Missouri, Columbia
Washington University, St Louis
Preface; Part I. Who Are Mathematicians?: Foreword to Who Are Mathematicians?; 1. Mathematicians and mathematics Michael Aschbacher; 2. What are mathematicians really like? Observations of a spouse Pamela Aschbacher; 3. Mathematics: arts and science Michael Atiyah; 4. A mathematician's survival guide Peter G. Casazza; 5. We are different Underwood Dudley; 6. The naked lecturer T. W. Koerner; 7. Through a glass darkly Steven G. Krantz; 8. What's a nice guy like me doing in a place like this? Alan H. Schoenfeld; 9. A mathematician's eye view Ian Stewart; 10. I am a mathematician V. S. Varadarajan; Part II. On Becoming a Mathematician: Foreword to On Becoming a Mathematician; 11. Mathematics and teaching Hyman Bass; 12. Who we are and how we got that way? Jonathan M. Borwein; 13. Social class and mathematical values in the USA Roger Cooke; 14. The badly taught high school calculus lesson and the mathematical journey it led me to Keith Devlin; 15. The psychology of being a mathematician Sol Garfunkel; 16. Dynamics of mathematical groups Jane Hawkins; 17. Mathematics, art, civilization Yuri I. Manin; 18. Questions about mathematics Harold R. Parks; 19. A woman mathematician's journey Mei-Chi Shaw; Part III. Why I Became a Mathematician: Foreword to Why I Became a Mathematician; 20. Why I became a mathematician: a personal account Harold P. Boas; 21. Why I became a mathematician? Aline Bonami; 22. Why I am a mathematician John P. D'Angelo; 23. Why I am a mathematician Robert E. Greene; 24. Why I am a mathematician Jenny Harrison; 25. Why I became a mathematician Rodolfo H. Torres.
