A Mathematician's Apology
#888 of 2,654 all-time
A Mathematician's Apology
G.H. Hardy
8 people recommended it in 4 threads, 2008–2022.
What people on Hacker News said
Of all the books I've read in the last 5 years or so, Hardy's A Mathematician's Apology is probably the one that stuck most in my head.
A Mathematician's Apology is a good read on why the most abstract of subjects is worthy of study. It is a justification of pure mathematics, without resorting to applied mathematics.
In computing we talk a lot of "elegant" code, without ever defining what elegance is, and in A Mathematician's Apology, Hardy talks of how the most beautiful mathematics is that which has not applicable to the outside world.
I just read A Mathematician's Apology. Really interesting, it really puts Hesse's Glass Bead Game in context.
Where it comes up
- Articles, Ideas, Books and/or Concepts that have changed your life 2008 · 5 recommendations
- Ask HN: Books you read in 2022 and recommend for 2023 2022 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect? 2018 · 1 recommendation
- What is the single most influential book every programmer should read? 2011 · 1 recommendation