The Education of T.C. Mits: What modern mathematics means to you (Paperback)

~ Lillian R. Lieber (Author), Hugh Gray Lieber (Illustrator), Barry Mazur (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

First published in 1942 for distribution to American soldiers in WWII, this volume makes a fascinating bit of social history, but a reprint of dubious worth. An acronym for The Celebrated Man In The Street, T.C. Mits is very much a product of his time, an early experiment in the personalized style of mass communication which has become the norm. Like many Americans who fought in the war, everyman Mits has a limited education and little knowledge of the world beyond his home; this book offers him a series of short lessons in mathematical logic and its social utility: "The value of Science and Mathematics is not limited to the gadgets which they give us, but is also in their philosophy." In each lesson, a mathematical example or proof is described, whimsically illustrated (occasionally in proper mathematical graphs), and then extended to non-mathematical matters; e.g., an amusing jaunt through Einsteinian relativity results in this "Moral": "Adapt yourself to a continually CHANGING world." The light-hearted lessons and corny line drawings are charming, to be sure, but numerous "Why We Fight" asides railing against Hitler and totalitarianism make it more than a little dated, and its condescending tone can grate; as described by Barry Mazer in the foreword, it's "funny" and "a bit exasperating," like "a loving, elderly aunt and uncle."
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Product Description

"I have studied with pleasure [this] new book. . . . Beautiful examples. . . . Illuminating. I am convinced that [Lieber's] original enterprise will get the recognition it so richly deserves."-Albert Einstein

"This is quite different from any other book. . . . And how is it possible to sandwich into a description of it as full of mathematics and full of humor, the fact that it is also full of a deep, healing philosophy of life, reassuring, strengthening, humane? Yet it is truly all these things."-Dorothy Canfield Fisher, Book-of-the-Month Club

Whether you are stumped by the "commutative law" in algebra or a whiz at multiplying three-digit numbers in your head, The Education of T.C. Mits-The Celebrated Man In The Street-opens the door to the wonders of mathematical imagining. By using simple language and intriguing illustrations drawn by her husband, Hugh, Lillian Lieber presents subtle mathematical concepts in an easy-to-understand way. More than sixty years after its release, this whimsical exploration of how to think in a mathematical mood will continue to delight math-lovers of all ages. Barry Mazur's new introduction is a tribute to the Liebers' influence on generations of mathematicians.

Lillian Lieber wrote a series of lighthearted (and well-respected) math books in the forties, including The Einstein Theory of Relativity, Infinity, and Mits, Wits & Logic.

Barry Mazur is the author of Imagining Numbers (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003). He has won numerous prizes in his field, including the Veblen Prize, Cole Prize, Steele Prize, and Chauvenet Prize.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 230 pages
• Publisher: Paul Dry Books; Reprint edition (June 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589880331
• ISBN-13: 978-1589880337
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 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: #249,433 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A joy to read, especially recommended for public library collections to stimulate human interest in math and science. , October 6, 2007

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Originally published in 1944, The Education of T. C. Mits: What Modern Mathematics Means to You is a unique, plain-terms introduction to the amazing world of mathematics, written for readers of all backgrounds. In higher mathematics, sometimes the most fundamental of precepts can be challenged: two times two is not always four; the sum of the angles in a triangle does not always equal 180 degrees, and two parallel lines can be drawn through the same point! The free-verse poetry format does not interfere with the straightforward message, sample problems, and mathematical explanations in the least. Simple black-and-white line drawings illustrate this amazing exploration of mathematical mysteries for "T. C. Mits", or "The Common Man in the Street". A joy to read, especially recommended for public library collections to stimulate human interest in math and science. Highly recommended. "There is one very essential difference / between the behavior of T. C. and / that of a scientist. / T. C. is apt to think that / if he is good at hunches sometimes, / he may rely on them always. / But the fact is that / EACH INDIVIDUAL HUNCH MUST BE / CHECKED AND DOUBLE-CHECKED!"

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nostalgia, October 6, 2007

By	Curmudgeon "Curmudgeon" - See all my reviews

First read this in the 1950's when it sparked my interest in science and math. Bought it recently (2007) and read it again for nostalgia, and ended up incorporating it in a class I teach that focuses on getting engineers to look at things a bit differently.

A good gift for grandparents to give grandkids...