The Calculus of Friendship: What a Teacher and a Student Learned about Life while Corresponding about Math (Hardcover)

~ Steven Strogatz (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

An intimate view of mentorship is revealed by US mathematician Steven Strogatz in The Calculus of Friendship, a compilation of letters exchanged with his high-school math teacher over 30 years. Through their correspondence they share problems in calculus, chaos theory and major life events, from professional and sporting successes to family bereavements and divorce. The book touchingly charts their changing roles and relationship, from student to professor, teacher to retirement.
(Nature )

You wouldn't guess it from the title, but The Calculus of Friendship is a genuine tearjerker. I defy anyone to follow the correspondence between mathematician Steven Strogatz and his high school teacher Don Joffray (affectionately nicknamed 'Joff') without getting just a little lachrymose. If you don't, check to see if there is a heart in your chest. If there is, ensure that it's not just a cold slab of stone.
(Bookslut )

Review

As these two men find truer, deeper friendship through an exchange of letters on math, you may be surprised to find yourself, as I was, moved by powerful emotions. I never thought I'd get choked up by an equation--but these guys are plotting out the hardest kind of change to track: the movement from Me to Us.
(Alan Alda )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (August 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691134936
• ISBN-13: 978-0691134932
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,832 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #3 in	Books > Science > Mathematics > Pure Mathematics > Calculus
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  #7 in	Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Professionals & Academics > Educators

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book., September 2, 2009

By	Michael R. Steele (Salt Lake City, Utah United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an absolutely beautiful book about the relationship through letters of a high school math teacher and one of his students who becomes a world class mathematician. It's about their lives and the mathematics that bound them together. I have read quite a few memoirs and don't recall any that choked me up like this one did, I want to thank Dr. Strogatz for being so open. Also, the math in the book is very interesting and well explained, if I could give if more than five stars I would.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed it, October 2, 2009

By	L. McJilton - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Very touching book. I admit I did not understand all the math ... I enjoyed seeing it, though.:) Bittersweet in a "benjamin button" sort of way.