Mathematics for Human Flourishing

by Francis Su (Yale University Press, 2020)

A Humanistic View of Mathematics

Mathematics for Human Flourishing calls mathematicians, math teachers, and society at large to embrace a more holistic and humanistic view of math education. Su describes the practice of mathematics through accessible metaphors such as sailing and exploration, and autobiographical vignettes add perspective. Even after gaining admission to Harvard to study for his PhD in mathematics, he was told he didn't have what it took, which illustrates the narrow view often taken by those doling out mathematics degrees. On a trip to China to lay his parent to rest, his car became stuck on a dirt road, showing that mathematical puzzles can pop up anywhere. Each chapter closes with a pair of riddles drawn from a wide array of sources.

Every Being Cries Out to Be Read

A more unusual source of inspiration is Chris, an incarcerated man who has corresponded with Su for six years. Each chapter ends with an excerpt from their letters, and the book ends with the two men meeting to discuss their tandem mathematical journey. Like community college, this book connects a vast assortment of people to mathematics. Many famous mathematicians are quoted, alongside anecdotes of everyday people encountering mathematical ideas. Another recurring figure is Simone Weil, younger sister of the mathematician André Weil, whose words are revisited throughout: "Every being cries out silently to be read."

The Breadth of Math 1A

The breadth of Math 1A students, in their mathematical backgrounds and their career goals, can be a challenge. Reading Su, I can also see that breadth as an invitation: a chance to consider how mathematical fluency and precision enhance each individual's life.

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