The “Mozart of mathematics” invites readers on a tour of six core ideas—numbers, algebra, geometry, probability, analysis, and dynamics—that capture the beauty and power of mathematical thinking for everyone.
In Six Math Essentials, the renowned mathematician and Fields Medalist Terence Tao introduces readers to six central concepts that have guided mathematicians from antiquity to the frontiers of what we know today: numbers as the gateway to quantitative thinking; algebra as the gateway to abstraction; geometry as a way to calculate beyond what we can see; probability as a tool to navigate uncertainty with rigorous thinking; analysis as a means to tame the very large or the very small; and dynamics as the mathematics of change. Six Math Essentials—Tao's first popular math book—provides a glimpse into the workings of Tao's incomparable mind and how he thinks about the creativity and interconnectedness of the mathematical enterprise. Contrary to popular perception, math, he insists, isn't magic - it's a powerful way of thinking that anyone can learn.
"The best mathematician in the world has written the best math book in the world. Like many great mathematical proofs, it's a model of simplicity, clarity, and beauty. And like many great books, it reveals deep insight not only into the world but how we understand it."
John Urschel, former NFL player and co-author of Mind and Matter: A Life in Math and Footb
"Like seeing soccer through Messi's eyes. Full of piercing insight and genial wisdom, SIX MATH ESSENTIALS made me feel like a kid riding on the shoulders of the world's smartest grown-up."
Ben Orlin, bestselling author of Math with Bad Drawings
