The Boy who Loved Math
Most people think of mathematicians as solitary, working away in isolation. And, it's true, many of them do. But Paul Erdos never followed the usual path. At the age of four, he could ask you when you were born and then calculate the number of seconds you had been alive in his head. But he didn't learn to butter his own bread until he turned twenty. Instead, he traveled around the world, from one mathematician to the next, collaborating on an astonishing number of publications. With a simple, lyrical text and richly layered illustrations, this is a beautiful introduction to the world of math and a fascinating look at the unique character traits that made "Uncle Paul" a great man.
Stats for nerds
2recommend
10mentions
3people
2014–2024years
90% recommend10% neutral
Mentions per year
What Hacker News says
- There is a truly wonderful children's book about Erdos, "The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos" by Deborah Heiligman and LeUyen Pham: https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Loved-Math-Improbable/dp/1596...
I think this book really shines in showing why it makes sense to accept "strange" people (or, that other kid in your kindergarten who seems "strange"). Fills me with warmth every time I happen to page it through.
- To me, "The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos" [1] by Deborah Heiligman and LeUyen Pham is a true gem. I suppose it might raise interesting discussions on how and why one should tolerate eccentric people. A book full of warmth, both in storytelling and illustrations (wow!).
1: https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Loved-Math-Improbable/dp/1596...
- We got him the Turing Tumble [0] last year, and he loved it. He'll take years to work through all the challenges. I found The Boy Who Loved Math [1] years ago, and now he reads that on his own.
[0] - https://www.turingtumble.com
[1] - https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Loved-Math-Improbable/dp/1596...
- There is an IMO outstandingly illustrated children's book about Erdős, "The Boy Who Loved Math" by Deborah Heiligman and LeUyen Pham [1]. Really witty, but also moving. I think it depicts really well why it makes sense to accept "strange people".
[1]: https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Loved-Math-Improbable/dp/1596... (I suggest Looking Inside the book as well!)
- My son is 6 now, and he has loved these two books since he was about 3:
The Boy Who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdos - https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Loved-Math-Improbable/dp/1596...
Bedtime Math: A Fun Excuse to Stay Up Late - https://www.amazon.com/Bedtime-Math-Excuse-Stay-Late/dp/1250...
We also started this book recently, and he has really enjoyed it so far:
Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World - https://www.amazon.com/Women-Science-Fearless-Pioneers-Chang...
- For anyone with kids, there's a great children's book about Erdös called "The Boy Who Loved Math". I read it to my kid for the first time when he was 2 or 3, and he loved it. It got us to start talking about prime numbers in a fun way long before I would have started talking to him about them. It also made enjoying math perfectly normal; my kid is 5 now and has no idea some people don't like math.
https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Loved-Math-Improbable/dp/1596...
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