Nothing so esoteric — it’s written for the popular audience. But there’s a lot of “what is mathematics?” or “how do we do mathematics?” Some random highlights:
> A big part of mathematical training is becoming acquainted with different concepts and recognizing how they’re cousins to each other.
> I encourage everyone to fool around with numbers—some enthusiasts discover important patterns that way, and some famous mathematicians, like the late John Conway, made a career of it.
> When we give word problems in school, we tend to cherry-pick perfect models that have one correct answer. Rather than teach a preordained procedure, we could encourage exploration by asking students to fix more realistic models where things are slightly noisy or slightly incorrect.
Perplexing how it's on the front page then given the background of the median HN user (presumably technical with some STEM background in general, some pure VC bros peppered in etc).
Eh, I just like reading new books on mathematics, even if they're covering well trod ground. I think a lot of people in math are like this. I'm not endlessly grinding through introductory textbooks, but there is something nice about seeing someone brilliant give their take on something fundamental. And the cultural differences you get in reading different texts from different periods or from different authors is really stimulating, for me at least.
The "algebra excerpt" [1] doesn't impress me at all. Sure, maybe equations intimidate some, but why not add some images or figures? Is that page really one of the six chapters, or is it 1/10 of a chapter?
I quite liked this interview:
Terence Tao explains 6 essential mathematical concepts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOMx2BHHWtE
The amazon preview [1] does not even show the contents page. How am I supposed to check if I might be interested in this book?
[1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/0374621799?tag=macmillan-20
The above page has the ToC:
1. numbers as the gateway to quantitative thinking
2. algebra as the gateway to abstraction
3. geometry as a way to calculate beyond what we can see
4. probability as a tool to navigate uncertainty with rigorous thinking
5. analysis as a means to tame the very large or the very small
6. dynamics as the mathematics of change
Amazon isn't even trying these days. They seem to no longer care about the shopping experience, especially for media.
That said, you can switch to the Kindle version and request a sample. The kindle samples usually have a ToC.
The paperback is 89 pages, the hardcover is 128. That's the only info Amazon shows me. And there's an audiobook, which is odd for a maths book.
I heard he was writing a book about the Cosmic Distance Ladder. I was looking forward to that, I hope this isn't what it evolved into.
It is listed as 'in preparation' when you click on |> Books and scroll to the bottom of the list at: https://teorth.github.io/tao-web/index.html
You could link directly: https://teorth.github.io/tao-web/climbing-the-cosmic-distanc...
The book is quite basic. Don't expect to get much out of it if you have a STEM degree.
It is still good as a book on philosophy of mathematics. Not the best, perhaps, but a solid introduction.
Like, the epistemology and metaphysics of mathematics? That kind of philosophy? Realism, idealism and all that jazz?
Nothing so esoteric — it’s written for the popular audience. But there’s a lot of “what is mathematics?” or “how do we do mathematics?” Some random highlights:
> A big part of mathematical training is becoming acquainted with different concepts and recognizing how they’re cousins to each other.
> I encourage everyone to fool around with numbers—some enthusiasts discover important patterns that way, and some famous mathematicians, like the late John Conway, made a career of it.
> When we give word problems in school, we tend to cherry-pick perfect models that have one correct answer. Rather than teach a preordained procedure, we could encourage exploration by asking students to fix more realistic models where things are slightly noisy or slightly incorrect.
I'm hoping my kids will get a lot out of it as they grow up :)
> The book is quite basic.
Perplexing how it's on the front page then given the background of the median HN user (presumably technical with some STEM background in general, some pure VC bros peppered in etc).
The Tao love conquers all, as it were.
I enjoy reading less technical books even on technical topics I know about. They serve a different purpose.
Eh, I just like reading new books on mathematics, even if they're covering well trod ground. I think a lot of people in math are like this. I'm not endlessly grinding through introductory textbooks, but there is something nice about seeing someone brilliant give their take on something fundamental. And the cultural differences you get in reading different texts from different periods or from different authors is really stimulating, for me at least.
Received my copy today via Amazon.
What do you think?
Beats Math Essentials by Terrence Howard.
Previous Discussion (February 2026): https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47113796
TIL about Quanta Books, thanks OP — will be checking this out! :D
The "algebra excerpt" [1] doesn't impress me at all. Sure, maybe equations intimidate some, but why not add some images or figures? Is that page really one of the six chapters, or is it 1/10 of a chapter?
Is this a book for children?
[1] https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/six-math-essentials-b...
Despite the downvoting I agreed with this comment completely