Testimonials

Testimonials from Users of The Heart of Mathematics

Instructor Reviews,
Student Reviews
Articles

From Instructors, Reviewers:

“I’m having a wonderful time using your text.  Thank you for an imaginative book.  I’m having a ball!  It’s everything I have been looking for in a book for this kind of course.

I just completed teaching Math 105, Math for Liberal Arts Students, at Irvine Valley College, and I must tell you that in 25 years of teaching this course I’ve never had a better experience.

I feel terrific because I know I delivered a quality course, full of rich and challenging ideas.  I’ve taught Math 105 many times from traditional textbooks, and I’ve never been this excited before.” 

Richard Zucker, Irvine Valley College, California

“I love this book!  Students are telling other teachers how much they like this book, and when I walk in to class they are already talking mathematics!  It is so wonderful! [Heart of Mathematics] is going great on our campus and all three of us using the book are having a blast!”

Jodi Cotten, Jamestown Community College (now Westchester Community College, Valhalla, NY)

“In addition to its superb presentation (including the humor), I particularly liked seeing art throughout the book. It [The Heart of Mathematics] has certainly captured the wonder of mathematics.”

Linda D. Henderson, The University of Texas at Austin

“What a wonderful book!  I just received a copy of ‘The Heart of Mathematics,’ so I’ve only had two days or so to glance at some of the chapters.  But I’m already impressed.  I’ve even recommended the book to a few people.”

Ivars Peterson, Math/Computers Editor & Online Editor, Science News

“I’m really enjoying it [The Heart of Mathematics], and students seem to be taking opportunities to do more, rather than the usual ‘What do I need to memorize to pass the test.’ ”

Steve Gendler, Clarion University of Pennsylvania

"Never before Burger and Starbird had such a giant step forward been taken in turning college students on to math. The Heart of Mathematics is easily the best liberal arts math textbook ever written. The authors understand which math really is beautiful and interesting, and design their chapters accordingly. They are pioneers in writing engagingly about mathematics. Greek philosophers might consider this the ideal liberal arts math text. There is nothing left for other authors to do but to try to imitate Burger and Starbird."

Dave Kennedy at Shippensburg University, PA

“I’m teaching a course using the Heart of Mathematics….I love the book!”

Raymond Greenweel, Hofstra University

Dear Edward Burger and Michael Starbird,

I am using your wonderful book to teach a course on mathematics for future elementary and secondary educators, and I wish to inquire whether …

Best regards,

Ed Mosteig, Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA)

Hi Dr. Starbird,

I have been teaching mathematics at Salado High School for thirty-two years. This year I have an independent study class consisting of six of our brightest juniors and seniors. I bought a copy of "The Heart of Mathematics" this summer and fell in love with it. I have purchased a copy for each of the six students, and we discuss something from the book almost daily. I want to commend you for writing such an interesting and informative book. We enjoy it very much, and I have informed the publisher of same. I have wondered if solutions to all the problems are available anywhere. Sometimes, I feel my solutions are lacking. Can you help? Again, thanks for such a wonderful work.

Dennis Cabaniss, Salado High School, Salado, TX

Dear Dr. Burger --

I am an assistant professor at Genesee Community College in Batavia, NY.  Last year I began teaching a course entitled "Perspectives In Mathematics".  "Perspectives" is a math course for humanities and social science majors that had not been offered at GCC for some time due to lack of interest, but with SUNY's recent General Education initiative including a math requirement, we decided to resurrect this course.

My biggest problem was finding a book. Last year I struggled to find anything even remotely appropriate, and wound up using less than four full chapters of material, supplementing lectures with hastily assembled handouts and various websites. A colleague mentioned "this great book by Ed Burger" that he had seen briefly, and I quickly requested a copy of HEART OF MATHEMATICS.

This book has been EXACTLY what I was looking for. The biggest complaint I had about the other books I had considered was that while the text might address topics from a "what if..." standpoint, the exercises fell right back into the same old "repeat these steps for the next 50 problems" routine. Students were not being encouraged to think or be creative in any way, which is what this class was supposed to be providing for them. Your book eliminated that concern completely! The Mindscapes, the 3-D effects, the manipulative kit, the Fun CD -- all of the resources included in HEART OF MATHEMATICS have made this book indispensible to me.

And I am not the only one praising the book. One of my students, a 14-year old girl who is taking college classes, says that she shares ideas from the book with her parents at the dinner table -- actually takes the book out and shows them diagrams right there over the mashed potatoes. Another student sent this message to me via email after reading Chapter One:

"Mathematics isn't just a negative approach on problems as many people have been led to believe. On the contrary, mathematics is a formulation of intriguing ideas and techniques. This book wants people to understand the true meanings of math before one has a presumption about a conclusion. Such judging has made math seem more of a chore than an art. One must strengthen the way they analyze certain situations and provide various forms of thought to fully understand them. Mathematics is truly a form of thought symmetry, order, and systematic grace found by some of the best ideas set forth by man. In respect, this book takes a fun approach by tackling prejudged ideas a person may have had about math."

I was shocked that a Humanities major would ever voice such an opinion about (ewww!) MATH.

Just wanted to let you know how thrilled I am with this book. Keep up the fantastic work!

Sincerely,

Phil Pickering, Genesee Community College, Batavia, NY

Hi!

After finding the book at NCTM 2002 and hearing Ed Burger speak at Orlando last spring - we are finally using the book in a topics class for seniors.  The book challenges us all, but it's wonderful and is engaging students who weren't previously known as math scholars. The highlight so far was when I stepped out the other day - leaving the students reading the section about comparing the cardinality of the naturals & reals - as I walked back to my room I heard a heated argument break out...over whether or not one infinity could be larger than another! I had had some concerns about whether high school students (specifically second semester seniors...) were ready for the thinking required of them in this class - but they are really rising to the challenge. Thanks for writing such a great book - it is accessible, tremendously readable and offers a wonderful new insight for us all.

Bravo!

Kirsty Wall, Tampa Prep, Tampa, FL

Ed,

Last fall I taught an abstract algebra class with four students, one of which has gone off to Duke this year to start a PhD in physics. That was without a doubt the most enjoyable class I have ever taught. Every day the students would KEEP ME past the end of the hour discussing things.

Having said that I want to let you know that today i had the most enjoyable day of class I can remember, the previous course excepted. I started my new course, The Nature of Mathematics, using your book (The Heart of Mathematics) this morning and if the rest of the term is as productive and interactive as today I and my students are in for a wonderful semester. Thanks for all of the good insights at the MAA Prep workshop and the help you've given me since.

Cheers,

Ron Taylor, Berry College, Mt. Berry, GA

Dear Prof. Burger,

I discovered your book, "The Heart of Mathematics", over a year ago and this year wrote a proposal for a general education course that would use this book as the text. This gen ed course would be created for students who have a strong math background but do not wish to continue in a program that requires calculus. The options we have available to satisfy our gen ed math requirement are geared to students with two years of high school mathematics, and the proposed course would be geared to students with a stronger mathematics background or, if a student in the honors program, a genuine interest in mathematics. This fall I will be teaching an experimental section of gen ed mathematics for the honors program at SUNY Oswego. I need to have a title and a working description for the course by the end of this week. 

Would you mind if I adopted the title and some of the description for the course you teach at Williams? Do you have any other title suggestions? If you have any other ideas or materials that you would be willing to share with me, I would certainly appreciate it. I do have a copy of the instructors manual, and that appears to be very useful. I have heard you speak on several occasions, and I love your enthusiasm and innovative ideas for the classroom. I'm really looking forward to this fall when I will teach a class of bright and gifted students using The Heart of Mathematics as our text.

Sincerely,

Vivian Anderson, Dept. of Mathematics, SUNY Oswego, Oswego, NY

Hi, Ed,

Just a note to let you know I am enjoying my honors class and the use of your textbook (yours and Michael's, of course but hereafter in any correspondence to be referred to as "your textbook"). After reading a set of homework papers this morning I realize that this course is as much a learning experience for me as it is for the students. I will learn this semester how to anticipate some of the misunderstandings students often have. I think the misunderstandings are great for pedagogical reasons, but are not great when students expect a grade on their papers.

Sincerely,

Vivian Anderson, Dept. of Mathematics, SUNY Oswego, Oswego, NY

Gentlemen,

I recently checked out your book ("The Heart of Mathematics") from the local library, and am crazy about it! Congratulations.

I teach math at a local elementary school on a voluntary basis, working with fourth through sixth graders who are exceptionally bright. I'm always on the lookout for material to challenge both the kids and myself. The book is full of ideas that I can use, but on the whole is a little advanced for kids that young. I would appreciate any suggestions you have on further reading materials. software, etc. (your book doesn't have a bibliography ?????). I'm especially interested in ways to introduce the idea of proof to young kids. The "puzzle" for the demonstration of the Pythagorean Theorem is perfect. Any help you can offer would be very well used with these kids. Thanks.

Sincerely,

Keith Guernsey, Salt Lake City, Utah

Thanks! I am enjoying this book beyond my wildest imagination. I am working on my masters in teaching middle level math and currently am teaching 6th grade math. I have shared some problems from the book with my students, discussed various ways they are using to approach the problems, and enjoyed reading their solutions whether correct or off the mark. They loved the Genie problem. It makes my class so much more interesting for all of us to continuously challenge our thinking.

Robin Hempel

Dear Ed and Mike,

I am finally going through my pile of new textbooks, and I came upon your book, the Heart of Mathematics. Your topics are very close to the topics we cover in our Mathematical Experience Course. This course will be taught by my colleague, Cheri Boyd (clboyd@naz.edu) this semester. Many of the topics you include we have included in the past, even though we may not include them all now. We have never had a text - a fact our students find frustrating at time, (we do have extensive notes). You add the element of fun that I feel we are missing, and the element of variety. I'm not sure that we can use your book this semester, but I think we will definitely try it in the future. It looks like a great addition to the books for a liberal arts course.Would you cover this entire text in one semester - it seems to have a lot of material? We find with a course that includes proofs, less is more. Anyway - thanks for a what appears to be a great book.

Mary Harrigan, Nazareth College of Rochester

Thanks to all! That was the quickest and most intelligent response(s) of any commercial contact I've dealt with over the internet....ever! I may not have the right CD....the one I have was in the package of "goodies" that came with the hardback Heart of Math and the teacher resource book. When I went to the website just now, I couldn't find a spot to type in the code you e-mailed me. All I saw was the Log In screen requiring a user ID and password...I'll try to call you in the morning. I would love to receive any updates or adaptations for HS audiences.

Pat Siano, Foley High School, Alabama

Before I go, may I just say how much I absolutely LOVE your book? I know that you know this, but it is WONDERFUL! And would it offend you (or possibly frighten you) to know how entertaining I think it is? The approach you and Michael Starbird took is so unexpected and delightful. I think I appreciate some of the subtle humor more since I've been exposed to so many FORMAL (and let's face it, sometimes boring) proofs in grad school, but it's also just plain fun to read! I can tell that you both put so much of yourselves into this work, which makes it all the more vibrant and engaging. I've shared several passages with friends and colleagues (math and non-math people), and they have enjoyed them too! So, you get a gold star from the Mississippi math girl.

Good grief, this e-mail is far too long for someone with your schedule to read. You have students to teach and Diophantine approximations to investigate. Go be mathful, and I shall do likewise -- it's time for me to play with the k-dimensional sphere again. :)  Have a great day-- 

Jennifer G. Fillingim, University of Mississippi, Department of Mathematics

Dr. Burger,

Just a note regarding The Heart of Mathematics. I think it's GREAT! Who am I? Well, I'm adjunct math at several California colleges, and we're using the book at Cal State U., Fullerton and Irvine Valley College (I Think). The book has more flavor than just about any stack of trees that's come out in years (decades!). I've taught Liberal Arts Math throughout the last five years, and I always have fun with it. But I'm probably learning more in using Heart than I did in my grad school (Univ. Cal. Irvine M.S.--don't tell (; ). The students are enjoying it as well. It's humorous, entertaining, insightful, provocative, and perspicuous. Well done. If you were to write another edition, my only recommendation would be to give us more! Thanks for the good work.

John P. Sinek

P.S. Kudos to Dr. Starbird as well.

Dear Professors Burger and Starbird:

I've wanted to write to you about the success I had using your text "The Heart of Mathematics" in the fall. I had been given a complementary copy of the text at a mathematics meeting last winter, and decided to use it for the course we have to teach to the "bottom" 20% of our students (in terms of SAT mathematics courses). I had dreaded having to take my turn with this course, and decided that I couldn't correct 12 years of difficult experiences for these students. But I could attempt to change their attitudes toward mathematics.

I was thrilled to find that your text fits well into my philosophy for all my courses--that I want my students to have a creative mathematical experience. I had a terrific time in this course, and we all enjoyed your text. I kept telling them that they were working with difficult mathematical concepts, but in new ways. This was very empowering to a group of students, many of whom had always been told that they "couldn't do mathematics." We spent a lot of time in chapter 2, and did a variety of geometry topics (I also used the Lenart sphere). Several students did projects with later sections, and they encouraged me to use chapter 7 for sure the next time I taught the course.

I picked up a copy of your article "Pleasures and Problems" at the ICTCM-- I had somehow missed reading that in the Notices. I agree wholeheartedly with your statements, and feel that I have some "soulmates" in terms of trying to reach a broader community.

I would love to chat with you at the meetings if you plan to go to New Orleans. In any event, I wanted to thank you for making this course energizing for both me and my students.

All the best,

Ellen Maycock Parker, Associate Professor, DePauw University

Dear Mr. Burger--

You have restored my faith in mankind! Thank you sooo much for taking the time to answer my questions regarding "The Number Name Paradox". That "crazy" college student would have the audacity to call your line and pick your brain, and that you would rise to the occasion is commendable. What a story I have to tell! You truly made my day --- a thousand times, thank you.

Suzette Taylor, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan

Hi Ed---I haven't talked to you in a long time.

I met you at Hofstra and am currently teaching a new math course here in Syracuse using your book.

As you know--sometimes the students are resistant to the ideas of infinity--mainly how BIG it is.

Anyway--last session I talked about the ping pong ball conundrum on page 150 of the text---of course they had a hard time buying the idea. I asked them  to read the description in the text and "think" about it for homework. You

will not believe what one student did--she is so proud of her work I told her I would tell you about it and mail or fax it to you.

When you see it you will see how it directly helped me explain the conundrum since she was not done. (you'll understand that statement later)

The difficulty lies of course that they think a minute is finite and how can that be infinitely divisible--which lead us into Zeno's paradox etc.

I'm trying to convince them that the discussions we are having is where the learning is.

Anyway I know I'm rambling but it is so exciting when they start to SEE it.

If you can send me your mailing address or a fax number I'll send you a copy of this girls assignment --(she already gave me permission to send it to you.)

Candice Dance, Onondaga Community College, NY

Subject: Women with Heart

Dear Prof. Burger and Starbird:

I have just finished teaching a course using your astonishing book, The Heart of Mathematics, for the first time. Teaching courses like this is always great fun, but I must say that your book added immeasurably to the experience, both for me and my students. We are deeply appreciative. One student described your book this way: instead of consisting mainly of numbers with few words, this book was filled with beautiful pictures and words with speckles of numbers here and there.

Let me pass along one brilliant spur-of-the-moment idea I had on the first day of class. Since I mostly wanted them to spend some time browsing through the book, as a first assignment for the next day, I told them to each find a page that had something on it that they found especially interesting. The next day, I began by having them all put their page numbers and names on the board (the room had wall-to-wall boards in front and back so this was easy). Then I just randomly would pick a page and name and that person would briefly say what they found that they liked and we would discuss it. The more than two hour session that followed may have been the single best teaching day of my 25 years at Colorado College, unbelievable energy and enthusiasm. My favorite page was from a student named Nirvana, who, in spite of her name or perhaps because of it, proved to be remarkably inquisitive and chose the index. (This also was a sneaky way to learn all their names.)

All the best,

John Watkins, Colorado College

Student Reactions to The Heart of Mathematics

Unsolicited email:

Hi Dr. Burger,

My name is Neil Blaze and I'm a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. I'm currently taking a math course to fullfill my GE requirements and we're using your text, "The Heart of Mathematics". I just wanted to tell you what a wonderful book it is. I've never been great at math, but the with the way topics are covered in the text, it makes things easier to understand.

I also wanted to tell you of an interesting incident that occurred with our class. There is a lady in the class who has a copy of the text that is not only autographed by you, but the autograph is also made out to a woman with the same name as the woman who purchased the text! All this was discovered while talking about probability and coincidence! What are the chances that someone here in Wisconsin got an autographed book signed by you to a woman with the same name?

Anyway, I wanted to again express my gratitude to you and your text for helping me better understand math!

Neil Blaze

1. “I have never liked a math book before. It was great.”

2. “This math book is incredible - it teaches you math in the purest sense of the word. Also, it was funny and challenging.”

3. “Textbook is a pleasure to use -- great!”

Students of Peter Kohn, James Madison University

From a homework assignment, student commentary:

"I have noticed that this course is helping me become more creative." --Katharine Hakeisch, Williams College

Reviews and Articles

Autumn/2003 issue of the Mitteilungen der DMV, there is a review of two books (Gowers: Mathematics, A very short introduction; Acheson: 1089 and all that). However, Ziegler begins the column by describing your book with Mike Starbird as "a new answer" to the question posed by Courant and Robbins, "What is mathematics?"