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Mathematics for Human Flourishing Paperback – February 2, 2021

4.7 out of 5 stars 418 ratings

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Winner of the Mathematics Association of America's 2021 Euler Book Prize, this is an inclusive vision of mathematics—its beauty, its humanity, and its power to build virtues that help us all flourish
 
“This is perhaps the most important mathematics book of our time. Francis Su shows mathematics is an experience of the mind and, most important, of the heart.”—James Tanton, Global Math Project
 
“A good book is an entertaining read. A great book holds up a mirror that allows us to more clearly see ourselves and the world we live in. Francis Su’s Mathematics for Human Flourishing is both a good book and a great book.”—MAA Reviews
 
For mathematician Francis Su, a society without mathematical affection is like a city without concerts, parks, or museums. To miss out on mathematics is to live without experiencing some of humanity’s most beautiful ideas.
 
In this profound book, written for a wide audience but especially for those disenchanted by their past experiences, an award‑winning mathematician and educator weaves parables, puzzles, and personal reflections to show how mathematics meets basic human desires—such as for play, beauty, freedom, justice, and love—and cultivates virtues essential for human flourishing. These desires and virtues, and the stories told here, reveal how mathematics is intimately tied to being human. Some lessons emerge from those who have struggled, including philosopher Simone Weil, whose own mathematical contributions were overshadowed by her brother’s, and Christopher Jackson, who discovered mathematics as an inmate in a federal prison. Christopher’s letters to the author appear throughout the book and show how this intellectual pursuit can—and must—be open to all.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Beautifully written, contains well-chosen and interesting mathematical puzzles, and offers an important viewpoint for mathematicians to consider. . . . The book is aimed at a broader audience and is also a call to being more inclusive, to recognising that there are many paths to success.”—Pamela Gorkin, Mathematical Intelligencer

“Inspiring.”—Scott McLemee,
Inside Higher Ed

“A good book is an entertaining read. A great book holds up a mirror that allows us to more clearly see ourselves and the world we live in. Francis Su’s
Mathematics for Human Flourishing is both a good book and a great book.”—MAA Reviews

Mathematics for Human Flourishing is an idea and book that has deep relevance for our time. . . . For anyone who doubts the importance of these ideas, not only for school achievement but for humanity, this book is a must read.”—American Mathematical Monthly

“[An] inspirational book. . . . This is a book for everyone who wants to know where and how mathematics can fit into their lives.”—Paul J. Campbell,
Mathematics Magazine

“This is a profound book aimed at a wide audience to begin a conversation on how to teach and engage with math in a new way.”—Sharon Hashimoto,
International Examiner

“Su’s work is an example of a faithful servant working for the common good. He presents a vision of mathematics as a means by which fullness might be felt by anyone.”—Thomas J Clark,
International Journal of Christianity & Education

Awarded Book of the Year by Aleo Review

Winner of the Euler Book Prize, sponsored by the Mathematical Association of America

Selected for the 2021 Phi Beta Kappa Award for Science Short List

“The ancient Greeks argued that the best life was filled with beauty, truth, justice, play and love. The mathematician Francis Su knows just where to find them.”—Kevin Hartnett, 
Quanta Magazine
 
“Please read this beautiful, compelling, galvanizing book if you care about mathematics, social justice, or humanity, which I hope is everyone.”—Eugenia Cheng, author of
The Art of Logic in an Illogical World
 
“The world desperately needs this all‑embracing and deeply human perspective on what mathematics is and why it matters. The key qualities developed by mathematical thinking are characteristics that we should all value and long for.”—Eddie Woo, author of
It’s a Numberful World
 
“I was mesmerized by this unusual, sublime book. Original insights and engaging puzzles made me feel young again, discovering a way to Zen and the Art of Mathematics.”—Nalini Joshi, University of Sydney
 
“Francis Su believes that math can make us better humans—and he leads by example. Every page is a work of generosity and compassion. Plus, the puzzles will haunt you for weeks.”—Ben Orlin, author of
Math with Bad Drawings
 
“A celebration of mathematics and the human spirit. Learning mathematics enriches our lives, and Su wants everyone to have a seat at the banquet.”—Edward Scheinerman, author ofv
The Mathematics Lover’s Companion
 
“A delightful mixture of philosophy, mathematical illustrations, and compassion.”—John Cook, Singular Value Consulting
 
“Francis Su has written a lyrical meditation on the beauty of mathematics and how it connects to our common humanity.”—John Urschel, author of
Mind and Matter: A Life in Math and Football
 
“Su elegantly uncovers the beauty and power of mathematics as they relate to our desires to be loved, trusted, and accepted. A powerful narrative of mathematical beauty, this book is the antidote for a mathematically fixed mindset.”—Talithia Williams, author of
Power in Numbers: The Rebel Women of Mathematics
 
“This is perhaps the most important mathematics book of our time. Francis Su shows mathematics is an experience of the mind and, most important, of the heart.”—James Tanton, Global Math Project

“The ancient Greeks argued that the best life was filled with beauty, truth, justice, play and love. The mathematician Francis Su knows just where to find them.”—Kevin Hartnett,
Quanta Magazine

About the Author

Francis Su is the Benediktsson-Karwa Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College, an award-winning math educator, and the past president of the Mathematical Association of America. His work has been featured in Quanta Magazine, Wired, and the New York Times.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yale University Press
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 2, 2021
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0300258518
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0300258516
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.75 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 out of 5 stars 418 ratings

About the author

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Francis Su
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Francis Su writes about the dignity of human beings and the wonder of mathematical teaching. He is the Benediktsson-Karwa Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College and a former president of the Mathematical Association of America. In 2013, he received the Haimo Award, a nationwide teaching prize for college math faculty, and in 2018 he won the Halmos-Ford writing award for the highly-acclaimed speech that formed the basis for his book Mathematics for Human Flourishing. For that book, he was awarded the 2021 Euler Book Prize. His work has been featured in Quanta Magazine, Wired, and the New York Times.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
418 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book thought-provoking and inspiring, with one noting its fantastic balance of inspiration. They appreciate its transcendent beauty and humanistic approach, with one customer describing it as an elegant enterprise for all human beings.

22 customers mention "Inspiration"22 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspiring and thought-provoking, with one customer noting its fantastic balance of inspiration.

"...presents a wonderful case for the fullness of mathematics as a humanizing endeavor...." Read more

"...quote from page 10 summarizes the book’s main theme, “Mathematics helps people flourish. Mathematics is for human flourishing.”..." Read more

"...He also has a plenty of personal stories, including how he discovered he was adopted, his recent marriage, growing up as a Chinese American in Texas..." Read more

"...This is a Soul touching effort from a humble amazing human being that had the courage to openly recognize how he has committed mistakes and the..." Read more

6 customers mention "Beauty"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's beauty, describing it as thoughtful and transcendent, with one customer noting it as an elegant enterprise for all human beings.

"...fully along the dimensions of Great Ideas (and others) like: truth, beauty, goodness, freedom, and justice...." Read more

"...government and country should establish this book which is a piece of genuine Art, as an essential read in last year high school and early college..." Read more

"...I was blown away by the thoughtful and insightful job he did...." Read more

"...Dr. Su's brilliant insights demonstrate the beauty, gentleness, and attractiveness of real mathematical inquiry, thereby making the disciplined,..." Read more

4 customers mention "Humanistic content"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the humanistic content of the book, with one review highlighting its compassionate and humble approach.

"...This is a Soul touching effort from a humble amazing human being that had the courage to openly recognize how he has committed mistakes and the..." Read more

"...our nation and the world had mathematicians as gracious, thoughtful, kind, and committed as Dr. Su...." Read more

"...A fantastic balance of inspiration, intrigue, compassion, and curiosity...." Read more

"...This book makes me want to spend my life studying math. It is humanistic and lovely. Inspiring and kind. Thank you for writing this book." Read more

Extremely insightful, much more than a few theories and anecdotes.
5 out of 5 stars
Extremely insightful, much more than a few theories and anecdotes.
(I received this title as an ARC. All opinions are mine and freely given.) I don't know what drew me to 'Mathematics for Human Flourishing' by Francis Su. If I'm being completely honest, I think I found the title intriguingly unusual. Without actually paying attention at the time to who the author might be, the cadence of the title had a very eastern feel to it.. and being of mixed Asian and Native Hawaiian descent.. sometimes my eye has a tendency toward those fluid sort of word dances. Perhaps, not so ironically.. in hindsight, as a student I was incredibly bored by mathematics and science. Not initially of course, in grade school instructors often seem to have a different approach to learning than in later grades. Not simply because the age of the students is younger, but in my experience most of them seemed to be in it for the kids and often genuinely liked them. As an adult, I know several people who teach junior high or high schoolers and none of them like their students as a rule. Likewise, I didn't much care for the instructors who wanted me to fit in a convenient box. And if I didn't like them, I didn't work well for them.. add to that.. the curriculum of math and science in traditional schools.. and I didn't even want to be there. Amusingly enough, I understood it fine. I could teach others, even those in college classes above me. Though I was a student who strongly disliked those classes, as an adult.. some of my favorite casual reads are books on quantum physics and quantum mechanics (science).. and what must you have for those? Mathematics. There's the irony for you. It probably seems as if I'm off on a tangent here and not reviewing the book, but bear with me.. my apparent tangent relates. What I expected from the book was for it to be heavily focused on mathematical theory and possibly full of formulas and problem solving.. the latter of which I love.. with a few anecdotes which might be interesting. Don't get me wrong. Sprinkled throughout the book there is some of that, but it's much more than it might seem. Su actually spends much of his time discussing the ripple effects that mathematics and the attitudes we're unintentionally groomed to have towards them have on our lives. He talks about how differently we might take to the topic if the focus was on learning and exploring, rather than ultimately on the grade and the correct solutions. The experience of exploration in mathematics leading students to find it more fun.. more engaging.. rather than turning away from it because it's shoved at them with a set of hard rules and expectations for results. There's some discussion on the fact mathematics are used more frequently in our every day lives than we understand. That there are algorithms choosing what we'll see, what opportunities we'll get, who or what we might make contact with and how a deeper understanding of all that might benefit us. He talks a great deal about spotting patterns (which are my go-to in just about every setting), and how our unknown inherent biases affect our decision making. There was a story in fact.. about restaurants with different menus that was surprising to me at first.. but when I got to thinking about what lead them to this method.. I began to see how it might happen more regularly than people realized. Certainly, there are assumptions made upon every interaction.. be it personal or professional. We judge, if not by race or common stereotype, at least by our own experiences. And that can lead us to approaching the same situation in an entirely different way, simply because we perceive a certain level of understanding within the other person. It's fascinating really. In addition to the things I mentioned, I genuinely enjoyed his reflection on letters sent to him by Christopher Jackson.. a man who discovered mathematics as an inmate in a federal prison. Christopher shares some truly introspective self-assessment with the author during the exchanges and the two seem to have forged quite a friendship over the years. The author touches on a lot of topics that are afflicting us currently and I highly suggest giving this book a try. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the content and his insight.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Got this book for a senior seminar. Great book, not just about how we use math in everyday life.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2024
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Francis Su presents a wonderful case for the fullness of mathematics as a humanizing endeavor. Su lifts our gaze from math's projection into the classroom and helps us see it more fully along the dimensions of Great Ideas (and others) like: truth, beauty, goodness, freedom, and justice. In an age when mathematics has been reduced to just another piece of a curriculum delivering knowledge and skills, Su reminds us that mathematics is so much more.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I read this book on the recommendation of an acquaintance and it was kind of a different book than I have read before. This quote from page 10 summarizes the book’s main theme, “Mathematics helps people flourish. Mathematics is for human flourishing.” What is human flourishing, you may ask. Here’s a quote from the chapter titled “Truth” on page 103, “Truth is a mark of human flourishing. A flourishing society values truth, while oppressive societies suppress it.” The author continues on page 188, “None of us can flourish without a supportive community.”

    Each chapter in the book explores important concepts and how he sees math contributing to these areas and thus, benefiting humanity. He extends his hope to expand human flourishing through improvements in teaching math as well. From pages 207-208, “Too often, those of us who teach math professionally say, “My job is to teach math,” as if teaching math were only about teaching facts and procedures. We forget that “my job is to teach people” whose experiences often intersect with mathematics in completely different ways than our own experiences do. And that means education has to take into account the whole person…”

    In addition to each topical chapter, there is an ongoing conversation between the author and an inmate, Chris, who has been studying math from prison. Over time they develop a friendship and excerpts from their correspondence are included in each chapter to illustrate how mathematics is helping Christ to flourish despite his situation. There is also a math puzzle or two in each chapter to challenge the reader to be a math explorer.

    I would recommend this book to those who wonder why schools should teach more advanced math courses and encourage everyone to look for the math behind technology, medicine, communication, and everything which leads to human flourishing.
    9 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    The book includes correspondence (letters) between the author and Christopher Jackson, a prisoner who has been learning mathematics on his own while serving time (even now). The author, a Harvey Mudd College professor, shares his own mathematical journey, from growing up in rural Texas to almost quitting while in graduate school at Harvard. The essential theme of the book is the link between mathematics and what it means to be a human.

    The message of the book is this: the “proper practice of mathematics cultivates virtues that help people flourish” (p. 10). Su disputes the misconception that mathematics is just a tool; rather, he powerfully demonstrates that it is for human flourishing, just like music and art are, nurturing virtues. He writes, “The skills society needs from math may change, but the virtues needed from math will not” (p. 11). He heavily criticizes both the outdated math curricula and pedagogy.

    He describes “math explorers,” which could, in his opinion, be all humans. He stresses creativity, imagination, abstraction (p. 43), fun, joy, beauty, struggle, and reflection. These virtues then become the outline of the entire book. Chapters have titles like “permanence,” “truth,” “justice,” and “freedom.”

    He also has a plenty of personal stories, including how he discovered he was adopted, his recent marriage, growing up as a Chinese American in Texas, being the first person of color to lead the MAA (the title “Finally, An Asian Guy Who’s Good at Math” is hilarious, p. 154).

    A photo of Francis Su and Christopher Jackson, taken in prison (p. 221), is also inspirational.
    Throughout the book, there are very interesting math questions and puzzles that encourage critical thinking. My favorites include ants on a log, 100 lightbulbs, and 5 points on the sphere.
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2020
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    The book goes above Math concepts and its applications. This is simply an encouraging piece of art, connecting dots of our natural way of functioning and how re-connecting with these roots is essential. The author establishes a mathematical approach to almost every experience from an individual connecting these with society as a whole. This is the absolute best content I have read in years due to it’s simplicity, ingenuity, value, and methodology; resulting encouraging and definitely bringing up human lifting results. Dr. Sue approaches Life in its very basic values, with full tools equipment possibilities for equally everyone. Professors like these are very much needed in this era. This piece of work is remarkably valuable and cam be applied virtually in every aspect of our lives. Pr. Sue objectives are fully majestically well achieved by un-complicating the now complicated human attitudes that run in auto-pilot as a result of social disconnection and cultural bias. Each government and country should establish this book which is a piece of genuine Art, as an essential read in last year high school and early college days. It brings so much value to the reader that no one will approach life the same after going through it. This is a Soul touching effort from a humble amazing human being that had the courage to openly recognize how he has committed mistakes and the processes he went through to overcome these and turn into a flourished human using the unlimited tools and resources of mathematics.
    7 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Mof
    5.0 out of 5 stars Must buy for any teacher serious about maths!
    Reviewed in Australia on March 22, 2020
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    This book is awesome. Falls right in line with giving students real world learning )maths in context). It is set out well, easy to read and provides excellent examples for discussion.
  • Stan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Eye-opening!
    Reviewed in Canada on October 10, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Each single chapter is inspiring and motivating. This book is for readers from all walks of life e.g. students, parents, educators, engineers, philanthropists.
  • Elisabetta Mattiacci
    5.0 out of 5 stars Da non perdere!!!
    Reviewed in Italy on August 5, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Per chi ha a che fare con la matematica e con la scuola: imperdibile!!!!
    Report
  • Dr. Peter Gates
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book. Heart warming. Encouraging. Wonderful.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Fantastic book. Heart warming. Encouraging. Wonderful.
  • AC
    2.0 out of 5 stars Arrived damaged..
    Reviewed in Germany on December 2, 2024
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
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    AC
    2.0 out of 5 stars
    Arrived damaged..

    Reviewed in Germany on December 2, 2024

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