Elements
Euclid
20 people recommended it in 8 threads, 2009–2023.
2 commenters pushed back on it — worth reading the threads.
What people on Hacker News said
They are excellent for self-education, providing both geometrical knowledge in itself, as well as extensive training in sound reasoning. Don't be fooled by the antiquity of their origin: they teach more clearly than most modern day texts, and their content is timeless.
But to start from scratch and learn rigorous math-by-proof, he has no equal.
Also the point of reading Euclid is not really to learn geometry but rather to investigate and examine the oldest, most primordial expression of the idea that math should be formalized using a few axioms.
An intelligent child can read Euclid and follow along perfectly, because there isn't really any prerequisite knowledge needed.
If you care deeply about your field you should read them at some point to see how ideas evolved historically.
I'm not recommending Euclid and Appolonius as a complete mathematical education, but a good place to start.
Also the point of reading Euclid is not really to learn geometry but rather to investigate and examine the oldest, most primordial expression of the idea that math should be formalized using a few axioms.
Where it comes up
- St. John’s Reading List: A Great Books Curriculum 2023 · 7 recommendations
- Ask HN: Best Mathematics book for complete noobie? 2009 · 5 recommendations
- Ask HN: Math books that made you significantly better at math? 2023 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: What are the most fundamental books on computer science? 2019 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Do you recall any book or course that made a topic finally click? 2022 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Are there books for mathematics like Feynman's lectures on physics? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What are your favorite books or essays written at least 100 years ago? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What book have you given as a gift? 2016 · 1 recommendation