Philip J. Davis (1923–2018)

Wow, from Plato to Polya, this venerable work looks very very much like it is worth reading, taking notes, and reading again just for the pleasure of it, once I actually have time to enjoy all of the citations (like the Myth of Euclid?! and Chinese mathematics!! -cool!!!).
I so enjoy the study of teaching mathematics, pity I don't enjoy the students nearly as much, the vast majority of the time (ok, nearly all of the time, but I do enjoy planning my lessons!).

And let us not forget Pacioli, of double-entry book keeping fame, no?… (more)

Wow, from Plato to Polya, this venerable work looks very very much like it is worth reading, taking notes, and reading again just for the pleasure of it, once I actually have time to enjoy all of the citations (like the Myth of Euclid?! and Chinese mathematics!! -cool!!!).
I so enjoy the study of teaching mathematics, pity I don't enjoy the students nearly as much, the vast majority of the time (ok, nearly all of the time, but I do enjoy planning my lessons!).

And let us not forget Pacioli, of double-entry book keeping fame, no?… (more)

Here is a summary page supplied by the author and inserted after two epigraphs, one in Latin, and the table of contents:

"Introducing Thomas Gray, a cat, and Lucas Fysst, a slightly eccentric Fellow of Pembroke College. Their collaboration leads them both to high honours in the intellectual world, and, as an aftermath, raises a number of metaphysical questions.
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"
Placed in Cambridge, England, this fantasy contains an introduction to the English University scene, an old Irish poem, a still older problem in mathematics, and six meals, together with some speculations on the human condition."

This perfectly introduces the subject as well as the tone, so if you like it, you'll like the book as much as I did, and find deep pleasures among the lightness and whimsey. (Five stars for being perfect of its type.)… (more)