I, Mathematician

A vast and stimulating collection of perspectives on what mathematicians think of themselves and what others think of them.

Peter Casazza (Author), Steven G. Krantz (Author), Randi D. Ruden (Author)

9780883855850, The Mathematical Association of America

Paperback / softback, published 30 December 2015

274 pages
25.4 x 17.8 x 1.6 cm, 0.512 kg

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.

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. Körner
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.

Subject Areas: Miscellaneous items [WZ]