An intro to how applied math and stats can be very useful for problem solving, with plenty of interesting real world examples pulled from history to contemporary events. The book is mostly accessible even for the less mathematically inclined, though it suffers from bloat and erratic pacing; Ellenberg is just SO JAZZED about the content that he lingers far too long on many of the technical ins and outs without successfully tying it back to the big picture. Many of the anecdotes were interesting but it could get dry at times. Still recommend for skimming or reading a chapter at a time over several months (like I did). Though I was annoyed at how much he seemed to like Scalia!