This is the best math book I have ever read. I normally don't write reviews on here, but this book was so good I had to. In this book, Ellenberg answers the question that everyone hears a million times in school, and that math teachers hate: 'When am I going to use this?' Ellenberg gives example after example of the importance of mathematical thinking, and how easy it is to be wrong in everyday life, to sometimes disastrous effect. He shows us that there is so much more to mathematics than the rote rule-following and computation we learn in K-12, and he argues that math teachers have generally done a poor job of answering the question their students annoyingly, yet reasonably, ask. Mathematics is a rich field of study with applications everywhere if we have the vision to see them. Mathematics, as Ellenberg says, is the extension of common sense by other means - when our common sense fails us.

Ellenberg gives a glimpse of the beauty and utility of mathematics and covers fairly advanced mathematics in a way anyone can understand. He gives an account of the famous mathematicians of the past, but rejects the notion that mathematics is a game for geniuses only. He also dismisses the stereotype of the eccentric, anti-social mathematician, and writes in an engaging, entertaining, witty style (think XKCD or The Oatmeal) that I loved. He's just a normal (brilliant) dude writing about how awesome math is. Math has a bad reputation in our culture, and Ellenberg does a wonderful job working to reverse it. Highly recommended reading.

Great, just made me sad again that I am not a mathematician.

When Am I going to use this? Does Lung Cancer cause smoking? (you read that right) Was the 2000 election fair? All these questions and more are answered. Good read.

I just got tired.
He does well at explaining everything, but it is still just too much information for a non-mathematician to wade through.

Definitely enjoyed this. A great look at the details of the story of the MA lottery that had positive expected value at certain times and the people who exploited this to make money, as well as a good explanation of the math involved, through this lens. Also several other good stories and explanation of their math. Overall quite doable as an audiobook although there were moments when I wished I had a paper copy.

Pretty interesting, listened to the audiobook and felt I learned some nice historical math tidbits and better ways to explain certain quantitative concepts but it kind of felt like there was something missing. No broader connection back to the thesis of the book that using math can be helpful in day-to-day life. As someone who is in a math-heavy field, I felt that the book was interesting but didn't gain anything substantive from it.

Let it just be said I'm one of /those/ people, who upon their first encounter with basic maths in primary school knew they were staring in the eye of their lifelong arch enemy, and who feel their pulse in their throats when they have to give change for £3.65 from a fiver. And I know I'm not the first or the last of /those/ people who loved this book - not only because it taught me new things, or because it showed me quirky facts about everyday life that are easy enough for me to remember and later use for impressing friends, but above all because it never made me feel stupid or like I don't belong into the smart club. This is maths that maybe not everybody can do, but that everybody can enjoy.

(Dakujem Lacinko!)