A Mathematician’s Apology
It’s been just a few weeks I’ve read a book, I mean, something to consider one of the best books (perhaps my most favorite memoir sort of pieces after Okhoy Malberi) I have ever come across. It was, again one of my favorite pure mathematicians GH Hardy’s A Mathematician’s Apology. And thought of putting some thoughts into words on that. You could say, completely raw, and ameteur thoughts.
It was a random night in 2022, as usual I was randomly scrolling through youtube, and all of a sudden a book review video with 500-ish views popped up. It was the moment I stumbled upon this book. And it took me more than 1.5 year to have in my TBRs, and read this. Of course, I am regretting that. I should have had this way before.
Before that I was just familiar with G.H. Hardy as a great English mathematician, apparently one of my faves. However, turns out he was also a great essayist indeed.
A Mathematician’s Apology. Basically an old mathematician’s last hurrah-ing rambles before his final day on the planet earth. Or maybe a love letter to mathematics.
Hardy wrote it when he was feeling past his prime. It was kind of like reading someone’s really sophisticated diary entry about why their life’s work mattered. The way he defends pure mathematics is so funny (he’s practically proud that it cannot be used for war or business, like that makes it more noble or something).
What really stuck with me is how he talks about mathematical beauty in a poetic way. He is all about these elegant proofs and patterns, treating them like they’re works of art that just happen to be written in numbers and symbols instead of paint or words.
It is weirdly poetic coming from someone who claims he is not good with words. As I mentioned earlier, the whole thing reads like a love letter to mathematics, but with this underlying sadness as he feels like he is not able to “do” math anymore at this age.
The best part is how unapologetically elitist Hardy is about it all. Straight up saying that real math is for young people and that if you haven’t made your mark by 30, you probably never will.
Okay, I get it, brutal, but there’s something refreshingly honest about it. The whole thing felt like listening to your brilliant but slightly grumpy grandfather explain why his passion matters, even if most people will never understand it.
If you’re into traditional lit readings, it might not exactly be a feel-good read, but definitely gives you something to think about, should feel like food for thought. As this goes, weird to weird, I had great moments (made it to my comfort readings).
14th Jan, 2025
