I Hate Mathematics! Book

A delightful book I read in the 6th grade for fun.

Contrary to its title, this book is actually all about the delights and joys of maths. It might as well have been titled, The ‘I Love Mathematics' Book!

This book re-kindled my interest in maths and introduced me to many of its delights, years ahead of school. Topics that would later come back years and years ahead in college, I first stumbled across and devoured in this little book, among them probability, topology, permutations and combinations, number theory, and a lot of other good stuff.

I wish maths teachers everywhere would strive for communicating the real joy of maths to students instead of making it seem like a dry unenjoyable subject, which it most certainly is not.

What I loved about this book, is its choice in incorporating the ‘big ideas' - ideas that will make the 11 year old kid see the world in a new mathematical light. Maths as it relates to the world. I can definitely remember having my 11 year old mind blown by contemplating the mysteries of the natural world this book introduced me to, through the medium of mathematical ideas, puzzles and riddles.

Aside from all that, this book is spectacularly funny. There are lots of jokes splashed amongst numbers, graphs, and charts. It is also written with some really clever humour, lots of witty and sarcastic quips in between.

There is nothing kids enjoy and need more than having their curiosity whetted and fed. We need more books like these.