The nineteen essays here illustrate many different aspects of mathematical thinking. The author is very well-known for his best-selling books of problems; in this volume he seeks to share his appreciation of the elegant and ingenious approaches used in thinking about even elementary mathematics. Standard high school courses in algebra and geometry furnish a sufficient basis for understanding each essay. Topics include number theory, geometry, combinatorics, logic and probability, and the methods used often involve an interaction between these disciplines. Some of the essays are easy to read, others more challenging; some of the exercises are routine, others lead the reader deeper into the subject.
Ross Honsberger was one of a kind at the University of Waterloo. He had an infectious enthusiasm for math problems and what he called "gems", offbeat but interesting math theories and proofs.
This book demonstrates some of his vitality. The essays are each about a problem you are unlikely to have considered before. If you have a mathematical bent, you will enjoy them.