[bridger]

Working hard at math might be necessary, but it doesn't have to be painful! I have found learning about the history of math has me puzzling over difficult concepts on my own time because it is fun.

The book I am reading (Journey Through Genius) is really good, but not very advanced math. I would love to find some self-study math courses that approach math not as a bunch of symbol-pushing but as an art with a history.

[SamuelMulder]

I've thought a lot about this and haven't found many good resources. I finally gave up and started reading history of math books. Unfortunately, most of them are aimed at grad students in history or grad students in math.

It has frustrated me enough that I've started developing my own versions. I taught a history of ancient mathematics class to homeschoolers locally and now I'm writing a book that works through Euclid while placing everything in historical context and focusing on the story of its development.

[gshubert17]

I found Lancelot Hogben's "Mathematics for the Million", originally published in 1937, to combine history and biography, concepts and calculations, explanations and illustrations, in a very engaging manner.

[bridger]

Sounds cool!

[thetwiceler]

Absolutely have to recommend Paul Lockhart's Measurement [1]! Journey Through Genius is a great book as well.

[1] http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674057555