Think Like a Mathematician

Simple Tools for Complex Everyday Problems

Junaid Mubeen

An accessible and enjoyabel way to develop the thinking tools and techniques to understand the math of modern life.

When we learn about abstract mathematical concepts—from prime numbers and fractals to aspects of calculus—the most common question is often: when on earth will I need this? To many of us, so-called "pure" mathematics is downright baffling. Yet these concepts are what underpin the world we live in, from internet security to the transmission of radio waves. When you start to think like a mathematician, the secrets of technology and modern life suddenly make sense.

Junaid Mubeen regards mathematics as a collection of thinking tools that can enrich the way we approach our everyday lives. In Think Like a Mathematician, he presents a catalogue of enlightening mathematical concepts. Some will be familiar from school, but the majority are ideas that readers will not have encountered before. And anyone—from mathematicians to self-proclaimed mathophobes—can learn from them. In Mubeen's clear prose, all of these ideas are easy to grasp, and may even reshape the way you see the world.

After a decade of working on innovative learning technologies, Junaid Mubeen now develops virtual math initiatives for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. He has a DPhil in Mathematics from Oxford University and a Masters in Education from Harvard University, where he studied as a Kennedy Scholar. He lives in England.

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Endorsements & Reviews

"Math needs more demystifiers, and Junaid Mubeen is here to lift back the veil to show the inner workings of maths and mathematicians." Eugenia Cheng, author of The Art of Logic

"Drawing on a wide range of fascinating examples, Junaid Mubeen shows that mathematics is so much more than just a set of numerical rules. Think Like A Mathematician elegantly reveals how to tackle familiar problems in a smarter way—from logic and learning to predictions and politics. An essential toolkit for understanding the world around us." Adam Kucharski, author of The Rules of Contagion

"An accessible and innovative trip through some of the deepest and most influential concepts in the mathematician's mental toolkit, inspired by issues we face every day. Highly recommended!" Ian Stewart, author of What's the Use?