God Created the Integers
#1469 of 2,654 all-time
God Created the Integers
Stephen Hawking
5 people recommended it in 3 threads, 2019–2020.
What people on Hacker News said
So, yeah, I love this book because we often talk about "the shoulders of giants" but we rarely actually read them directly. And it's amazing, inspiring, and wonderful to relate to them!
Personally, reading Descartes original words in Geometry was awe-inspiring, not because every word was so perfect, but because he comes across as just so damn human, the ideas he presents are subtle and profound, and yet presented with an interesting combination of humility and pride that is instantly recognizable.
we stand on the shoulders of giants, but we so rarely look down to see their faces.
I would give God Created The Integers as a reference to read up to where you are in math, not as something to get through.
So, you could get a feel for what Euclid wrote, or what Descartes wrote, either after or during learning those lessons.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: Recommend a maths book for a teenager? 2020 · 3 recommendations
- Ask HN: Mind bending books to read and never be the same as before? 2020 · 1 recommendation
- Classic Mathematics Books for Lifelong Learners 2019 · 1 recommendation