Each summer six math whizzes selected from nearly a half-million American teens compete against the world music, games, politics, sports, literatur...
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Jan 19, 2010
David
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After I had finished this book, I was trying to pinpoint the source of its excellence. I think it is threefold:
(a) Full disclosure - I have a master's in math, so was predisposed to find it interesting
(b) Actually (a) may be more or less irrelevant. What I realize is that books wherein someone who can write well takes the topic of their own, or someone else's obsession, and communicates the essence of that obsession are, to me, fascinating. Other examples that come to mind are More...
(a) Full disclosure - I have a master's in math, so was predisposed to find it interesting
(b) Actually (a) may be more or less irrelevant. What I realize is that books wherein someone who can write well takes the topic of their own, or someone else's obsession, and communicates the essence of that obsession are, to me, fascinating. Other examples that come to mind are More...
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Jan 19, 2010
Jen
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I was enjoying learning about the International Mathematical Olympiad, getting a glimpse into the kids who compete at these things, but then I put it down for a bit to read some fiction. Now I find I'm not that enthusiastic about picking it up again. It's well written and the author makes what could be considered a dry subject quite interesting--the focus isn't so much on the math itself, but on the study of mathematics in the US vs. other countries, and what makes a "genius." Even tho
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Aug 10, 2010
Jon
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Count Down : Six Kids Vie for Glory at the World's Toughest Math Competition is a book following a bunch of students competing for the US team in the International Mathematics Olympiad. You probably weren't aware there was such a thing. I was -- mainly because when I was growing up, and going to math camps, I knew some of the kids who competed, or aspired to compete, in them.
I was never part of that crowd -- for whatever reason, I'm not a "math contest" sort of guy. As I we More...
I was never part of that crowd -- for whatever reason, I'm not a "math contest" sort of guy. As I we More...
Dec 08, 2010
Jennie
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This book was exhausting. I liked it. I like math and I'm good at it and though I was never someone who was into competing in Math (I dropped out of Math competitions in elementary school because I didn't like it), it was certainly interesting to read about. There was also more of a focus on what makes a genius a genius, and how math is taught in the US compared to other countries. I have a genius-level IQ and I have been taught math in both the US and Germany. I would assume it is because
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Feb 05, 2009
America is not a nation of math-lovers. Olson's subjects are, for the most part, the kind of kids his readers never were. However, he resists turning the Olympians into curiosities or players in a high-stakes drama. Instead, he uses the Olympiad as a springboard for discussing compelling issues of nature, nurture, and competitive drive. Some of these discussions crowd out the kids themselves; Olson doesn't describe their lives as fully as he might. Nor does he consider all the questions raised b
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Jan 29, 2010
Melissa
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About the 2001 42nd IMO. Though the 'focus' is that IMO and it's six US team members, a large majority of the book is spent on discussing contributions to the mathematical success of these kids... what made them who they are? Explores issues like 'nature vs. nurture', why so few women are seen exploring math, the afffect/non-affect of parenting, math education in the US vs other countries, etc. Fairly interesting and a pretty quick read since some of the book is written in narrative form.
Jan 30, 2011
Mark
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Feb 05, 2012
Ensiform
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A light study of the six problems, and the six members of the US team, at the 2001 International Mathematics Olympiad. Intertwined with Olson’s dissections of the math problems and an example solution for each by a team member are ruminations on what makes up what we think of as math “genius:” talent, creativity, competitiveness, dedication, and so on. Olson asks questions such as whether geniuses are born or made and why women do not excel at math as much as men, exploring various arguments f
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Jan 19, 2010
A.
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Having competed in math competitions when I was younger, I thought this might be interesting, so I picked it up from the remainders pile at the Harvard Book Store. Olson does a commendable job of explaning difficult math problems in a way that the non-math-geek can understand, and the fact that the Olympiad is essentially six word problems allows him to dissect one problem (and the competitors' thinking regarding it) per chapter. A quick and engaging read, though I do wish Olson had spent a li
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Jan 19, 2010
Adam
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Quick read. A bit of math, but not too much. Just enough to keep me entertained.
The format got tiresome after awhile: each chapter begins with a scene from the Olympiad or some personal story about a participant; then a more general topic in education or mathematics is discussed, and the chapter concludes with a wrapping-up of the initial scene.
The intros to general ed and math topics are cursory, but cover a wide range of topics. This book might serve as a good starting More...
The format got tiresome after awhile: each chapter begins with a scene from the Olympiad or some personal story about a participant; then a more general topic in education or mathematics is discussed, and the chapter concludes with a wrapping-up of the initial scene.
The intros to general ed and math topics are cursory, but cover a wide range of topics. This book might serve as a good starting More...
Dec 10, 2011
Laura
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This was a really interesting meandering discussion about genius: what that means, where it comes from, how it is nurtured. It was about the math competition but was even more about the kids who were competing.
Feb 12, 2009
Craig
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Unbelievably gripping non-fiction about a bunch teenage mathematicians that I do not know, and will probably never meet. The stories here give me hope for the future.
Feb 24, 2009
Mary
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Don't worry if you can't do the math; you can still do the sociology!Knocks down such stereotypes as the Math Nerd and, by the way, that "math is a young man's game." Even though the Math Olympiad kids are high schoolers...
Jun 17, 2009
this is good book i read it 4 school. it is about discrimination......it is not really about mathmatics:)
Feb 14, 2011
Jessy
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This is officially my new favorite book. PERFECT blend of math and psychology. LOVEEEEEE IT.
Sep 20, 2007
pianogal
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I'll admit it - I was a math geek in school. Being so, I picked up this book and was delighted to read in the very first chapter about one of the main characters who had competed in a Mathcounts event that I was also at (she kicked my butt, by the way) and that it mentioned several other people I know. I even bought this book for my mom - who was my Mathcounts coach, but I don't think she's read it yet.
Jul 21, 2010
Tuck
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about kids competing in the International Mathematical Olympiad. interesting story and discussion of why usa kids/schools do so bad at math (lack of effort, basically) and why women/girls do "so bad" at math. but really, not a very compelling writer. sorry olson. he won all kinds of best science writing awards for "Mapping Human History"
Mar 20, 2008
Damon
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A good quick read for anybody who is either into math, or participated in academic competitions as a kid. The underlying theme about the nature of intelligence is compelling. You certainly do not need to know any math to read it, but a mathematical background probably enhances the experience.
Jul 31, 2008
Hong Deng
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This is an amazing book that not only talks about the thrilling lives of six kids who joined the American Olympaid team, it also gives a lot of information about the interesting problems of problem solving. The book also has a lot of insightful details on psychonology.
May 31, 2008
Lori
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Not bad. Clear, no-nonsense style. Read during my effort to figure out what makes math beautiful, but like all aesthetic pursuits that don't necessarily employ words, what makes it beautiful can only be talked around. Though the book itself was a bit superficial.
Mar 22, 2008
Joseph
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Enjoyed combination of math problem solving and portraits of competitors. Breaks stereotypes of math nerds indeed.
Jan 19, 2010
Caroline
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This book made me want to be good at math... i am way too left brain though.
Feb 02, 2012
Jan 31, 2012
