What Is Mathematics? An Elementary Approach to Ideas and Methods: An Elementary Approach to Ideas and Methods (Oxford Paperbacks)

This book is probably my all time favourite mathematics text for introducing undergraduate mathematics. The author is a prolific writer and very engaging. The breadth of topics covered is impressive.

A classic text, full of interesting stuff and very good wider reading for any mathematician.

Not quite what I wanted, but that's my fault - caveat emptor. I'm wanted something on the philosophy of maths, but this is basically a maths textbook, although it is much more discursive than the ones I remember from school and is quite a good read. Early on, the authors put me in my place by remarking that the mathematical object "exhausts itself in the totality of its possible relations with the perceiver [and although] these relations must be co-ordinated with the thing in itself" further speculation on this point can be let to the philosophers. Nevertheless it is a beautiful book and I shall keep it as a handy reference to the subject. I have one criticism, which is that the text dates from 1941 but recent developments are set out in an appendix written by Ian Stewart in 1996. It would have been useful to have the main text marked-up to show where there is further matter in the appendix.

son of famous father, nd it shows, you need to be a mathematician but it could convert some who are scared

A classic - but still highly enjoyable introduction to basic concepts and ideas in Mathematics. This revised version includes interesting updates by I. Stewart.

Very enjoyable read

All ok

This is a good book if you have a good level of mathematics knowledge already. The book is for university student, not for a high school student.