Everyone set your alarms for 1:59 today because it is officially Pi Day! You (like me) may not remember anything you learned in math class after the 4th grade, but I’m willing to bet you may celebrate Pi Day for the excuse to eat pie if nothing else. If you’re interested in expanding your knowledge beyond two plus two, but you don’t want to read some boring textbook, keep reading! I know your TBR list resembles pi already (it seems like it goes on forever), but I think you might be able to squeeze in a couple more books! These are five math books that are guaranteed to teach you something without boring you to death. Oh, and they’ll go great with a big slice of pie!
1. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon
In this novel, 15-year-old Christopher uses logic and his vast knowledge of math to solve the world around him. When the neighbor’s dog is killed, he uses his skills to try to solve the murder. Christopher uses complex mathematics to make sense of the world around him and attempts to explain the unexplainable.
2. How Not to Be Wrong: The Hidden Maths of Everyday Life by Jordan Ellenberg
In this book, Jordan Ellenberg illustrates the way that math is woven into everything. He sees math in every aspect of life and how it can be used as a way to explain nature. Ellenberg doesn’t teach the boring math you learned in high school and then forgot; he teaches math that is applicable and useful in our everyday lives.
3. The Housekeeper and the Professor by Yoko Ogawa
A professor who has suffered severe damage to his memory can only maintain short-term memory in 80-minute increments. A housekeeper is charged with taking care of the Professor, and in the process, she builds a bond with him, and he teaches her and her son mathematics stored in his long-term memory.
4. Letters to a Young Mathematician by Ian Stewart
Ian Stewart writes to young readers, specifically students, and shares nuggets of wisdom that he wished he had been taught in his youth. He shares truths about philosophy, math, and other subjects and encourages young readers to not get discouraged. If math isn’t your subject, this book might just change your mind.
5. Prelude to Mathematics by W.W. Sawyer
Sawyer teaches about the mindset of mathematicians. If you want to become more attune to mathematics, there are several things you can do before you ever start studying math that will put you ahead of the curve. Read this book if you want to get serious about mathematics but don’t know where to start.
FEATURED IMAGE VIA FORT WORTH MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY