This book was written 100 years ago. No, I didn't go buy a 100 year old book but a centenary edition. Am I crazy or what to buy a maths book ? Well actually I was rather curious about how a 100 year old book is like reading it and I sort of like maths. Don't get me wrong, I am no geeky nerd. In fact I don't even come from the science stream. During my time and in my institution, if you flunk maths in Sec. 2, that's the end of the road for all your dreams to become a scientist, never mind the straight A's for the other subjects.
I was a slow starter (ok lah, a bit lazy and idle too), flunked maths and ended learning about Shakespeare, history of China and all that stuff. But I was also one of the 6 heroes in the class who switched from elementary maths in GCE O level to advance (pure & applied) maths in GCE A level. Small birds never see last stick but after a challenging ( aka harrowing) two years we scrapped through. That was an achievement (never mind the grades) and the experience permanently rewired my brain to maths.
For those in the maths fraternity, Hardy was a renown mathematician and this book is supposed to be a classic. It is not hard to read but you will be cracko to try going through the pages one by one. Select a chapter or topic and jump right in. I find certain topics are more clearly written than some of those flashy maths books you find in bookshops today. When I read those sometimes I also lost.
Mathematics began with 10 digits (some say 20) on our limbs and the innate need to keep count (be it goats, cowrie shells or screaming mates from the next tribe). Today it can just about explain the beginning, evolution and probably the end of the universe. And all it took was time (give or take a couple of hundred thousand years) plus a three and a half pound of spongy jelly between our ears. Now, that to me is amazing and profound.........
No comments:
Post a Comment