Recommended Reading
General Mathematics
- Concepts of Modern Mathematics by Ian Stewart
- UToronto Library
- This book is a light and conversational introduction to lots of cool ideas in modern mathematics. It had a big impact on me when I first read it as an undegraduate. What’s a set? It’s bag with stuff in it. What’s a set of sets? Well, a bag full of bags!
- Mathematical Snapshots by Hugo Steinhaus
- UToronto Library
- This is a collection of curious and interesting facts in mathematics. It is not expository, and contains no proofs, but gives an idea of what mathematics is about. Lots of great topics for seminar talks.
Fiction
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Fictions by Borges
- UToronto Library
- As a highschool student, I was absolutely obssessed with Borges.
I read everything that I could get my hands on.
Eventually, I started to learn Spanish to read him in the original.
Fictions is an astounding collection of short stories.
It simultaneously sparked my interest in philosophy and mathematics.
- The Library of Babel
- Pierre Menard, the Author of Don Quixote
- The Babylon Lottery
- Funes, the Memorious
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Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang
- UToronto Library
- Deep and philosophically fascinating science fiction.
When I was a graduate student,
we passed this one around the office
and all had our favourite stories.
My favourites are:
- Understand
- The Story of Your Life
- Seventy-Two Letters
Non-Fiction
- The Lives of a Cell by Lewis Thomas
- UToronto Library
- Short, deep, thought-provoking essays by a modern Montaigne.
Lewis Thomas was an American physician and essayist who wrote broadly about
medicine, science, culture, and biology.
- The Music of This Sphere
- Your Very Good Health
- Social Talk
- The World’s Biggest Membrane
- The Hand: How Its Use Shapes the Brain, Language, and Human Culture by Frank Wilson
Reading and Writing
- How to Read a Book by Ader and van Doren
- Professor as Writers by Robert Boice
Hobbies
- String Figures and How to Make Them by Jayne
- Mark Wilson’s complete course in magic
- Mysterio’s encyclopedia of magic and conjuring
- Mac King’s Campfire Magic
- Modern Coin Magic by Bobo
- Card College by Roberto Giobbi
- The Complete Juggler by Dave Finnigan