Stanley F. Schmidt

Biblical fiction is very much a mixed bag for me. I really enjoy some of it… and other books in this genre just don’t do it for me. For the first half or so of this book, I was quite ambivalent about it, and likely wouldn’t have kept on if I hadn’t committed to reading it. Towards the end, though, I found myself reading faster, wanting to find out what happened.
I was quite irritated with Joram through much of the story, because it seemed like he wasn’t learning what he needed to show more learn. It was great to find him changing later on, though. I especially appreciated the discussions about what marriage should be. I also liked the glimpse at what it may have been like to be in Jerusalem on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author, and these are my honest thoughts about it. show less

This is a reread for me of the most delightful high school Algebra 1 text there is, hands down. While most students won't be able to use this all by itself (they need teachers and more practice problems, although there is now the expanded edition and there is the Home Companion) I think every single Algebra teacher or high school math teacher ought to read these a. for fun and b. to see if they can use them to supplement the dry and boring texts, whether or not otherwise well done, they are show more required to use in their classrooms.

Fred Gauss, our protagonist (name, naturally, after Carl Frederich Gauss, that incredibly brilliant real life mathematician and astronomer who is fictionalized in that good fiction novel, Measuring the World) leads us through beginning Algebra in a humourous romp replete with Algebra being taught in real world stuff (even if in a fictional work) and rife with literary, musical and other references, and a bit of fun with country music.

In the book, Fred is taken, on his sixth birthday, from his office at Kittens University, where he is a professor of mathematics, and drafted into the army because his secretary has not been opening all of his fan mail, just guessing which category it falls under (job offers, marriage proposals, etc) and sending off a form letter. I shall say no more so as not to ruin the jokes (good, silly and otherwise), and that if you don't care to actually do all the math in the "your turn to play" sections and the cities, you can still enjoy this romp. show less

We love this book at our house, mainly for its fun literary bent and the brilliant way the author can simplify some explanations for algebraic processes. For most students, this is not a stand alone text, but my university math major refuses to let me sell this. How many math authors introduce literary devices, poetry and various and sundry other things in a comic story about a lovable but totally unbelievable 5-6 year old math professor named Fred Gauss? If you enjoy reading math texts, I show more suggest adding this one to your list, and if you are teaching your students or kids Algebra, I highly recommend this as a supplement to whatever you're using.

One caveat, there is some Christianity here, but nothing in your face. I don't recall any preaching or scriptures or written out prayers, and I know non-Christians who have used and enjoyed this. show less

Ever since someone gave us a few Life of Fred books several months ago, I have been slowly reading them to my little girl. At times she loves them, and then she gets bored with them for a little while. Overall, she thinks the stories are quite fun. I’ve noticed that these books have helped her learn a number of math facts better, and she learned how to tell time through reading these stories, along with doing her regular math books.
Life of Fred stories don’t merely present math topics. show more There are smatterings of other subjects mentioned as well, such as astronomy (we had an impromptu astronomy lesson one night after reading about Orion in one of these stories) and foreign languages. It appears to me that the author’s purpose is to make children curious about the world and eager to learn more. This is certainly a fun way to learn! show less