A Mathematician's Apology in Mathematics Students

Jul 07, 2013 Jon Johnson rated it it was amazing

This little book inspired me to major in mathematics, and I have reread it a couple of times. It is just as inspiring each time.

There is a bit of irony in the life and work of Hardy, as he was interested only in the beauty of mathematics and was apologizing for not having done anything useful in his life; yet he is at least partially responsible for the use mathematics has been to secure computing.

The first time I read this book, I thought it was entirely tongue-in-cheek and not an apology at a ...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Julian rated it did not like it

Shelves: mathematics, philosophy, mental-illness, biographical, apologia

Hardy's eloquently written suicide note is too colored by his depression to propose ideas of real merit that stand up to any scrutiny. C.P. Snow's forward is great, however. ...more

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Jan 10, 2015 'Asem Ismaiel rated it really liked it

It's good to know I've always had almost the same views as Hardy, although I'm not familiar with any of his work but he did have the pleasure of working with Ramunjan so he rules. :D
I enjoyed most of the book but this line is probably what I liked the most:
"Imaginary universes are so much more beautiful than this stupidly constructed ‘real’ one." ...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Matt Jarvis rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I really enjoyed Hardy's book, I read it twice, and I'll look forward to reading it again sometime. It's a charming and insightful little thing, and sad, and it gave me pause for thought more than once. A wonderful read, and Snow's foreword was wonderful too, even if it did take up almost half the book. :P (It's a short book.) ...more

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