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A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra) Paperback – July 31, 2014

by Barbara Oakley (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 450 customer reviews
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  • A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)
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Product Details

  • Paperback: 336 pages
  • Publisher: TarcherPerigee (July 31, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 039916524X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0399165245
  • Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9.1 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (450 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,625 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 starsBeing a Better Learner
By B.L. on August 1, 2014
Format: Paperback
I think that this book potentially has a lot of value to offer to the reader. I came to it as someone who's going to be taking some fairly high level math/science courses in the near future, and I've been working on refreshing my mind on the subject matter and updating some of my thoughts on study techniques in hopes of making the transition a smooth one. I've been looking at a lot of materials for this, and also for some other learning-related projects I've done over the past year.

Because of that background, a fair bit of what came up in this book was familiar. Some of the historical anecdotes have popped up in other books, like Moonwalking With Einstein. The author really isn't pretending to have invented everything she's talking about, because she makes reference to research results and has endnotes leading to more information. I don't think that this takes away all of the value of the book, though, because it's a compilation of bits of information you could otherwise gather in many different places. Basically, you're spending a few dollars to have someone sum it and try to put it into a sensible order for you.

I think the target market here includes fairly sophisticated high school students, but it's overall more suitable for adults who are already reasonably educated. The author is currently running a free course (there's a paid certificate, but that's optional) through Coursera called "Learning How to Learn" where it basically says that the book and course were designed to go together. That seems about right to me, because most of the people who participate in Coursera courses regularly are those who have at least some college background.

My feeling is that there's enough value in here to quite easily justify buying and reading it.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsThis book has been brilliantly and lovingly constructed from the ground up as a ...
By Dauven the Rat on August 6, 2014
Format: Paperback
This book has been brilliantly and lovingly constructed from the ground up as a guide to 'how to think and integrate new information.'

I know that sounds a bit dauntingly broad, but I'll tell you, after just six days and four chapters, I'm thinking so much more clearly, and integrating new information faster than I ever have before.

Speaking as someone who has ADHD, I've always had difficulty concentrating for long periods of time. I thought it was the only way to learn. This book not only shows simple solutions for the issues that I have, but it provides methods of working with the difficulties I have and STILL being able to learn effectively. I was so overwhelmingly relieved when I started reading that there were a couple of instances where I downright cried.

But in all seriousness, this book isn't just for helping with Math or Science! It also outlines simple and effective methods for:
Organizing new information
Improving your information recall
Avoiding procrastination
Accessing your creativity
Avoiding "Illusions of learning"
and many more, all in a read that somehow manages to be entertaining while it teaches you.

As a self help connoisseur, I haven't found a text that's so obviously filled with love in a long, long time. Barbara Oakley obviously cares a great deal about bringing the science of learning to be able to take so much time to bring it down to a level that even I, with my organizational difficulties, can understand.

In short, BUY THIS BOOK!
It'll help you with literally EVERYTHING in your life, from tackling Calculus problems to washing your dishes!
2 Comments 71 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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1.0 out of 5 starsDisappointed by misleading title and description
By Deduction on August 21, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase
Let me spare you the disappointment and $10:

If you’re buying this book because you think it’s going to teach you mathematical insights that people who have “a head for numbers and excel at math” know – like specific revelations about math techniques, math ideas, math intuitions, math concepts, things about numbers, what math actually is and means, how to interpret and understand specific math ideas, etc – then DO NOT buy this book.

(For these things: I recommend "Algebra Unplugged", "Mathematics for the Non mathematician", and "Mathematics: A Very Short Introduction" and http://www.felderbooks.com/papers/ to name a few resources.).

If on the other hand you want tips on how to study, tips on how not to procrastinate when it comes to studying, motivational comments from professors, and general advice like the following found in this book “exercise will help your general ability to learn" then buy this book.
24 Comments 331 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Sending feedback...
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5.0 out of 5 starsBrilliant strategies we should know about but that nobody ever teaches us directly
By John Bartelt on July 31, 2014
Format: Paperback
“How to excel at stuff” books have always clogged the self-help shelves. They usually contain five or ten logical thoughts that have been bloated into a full book.

On very rare occasion, however, something comes along that’s “the real deal”, that contains no “filler”, that actually, truly, and tangibly boosts our learning abilities and human potential; that shows us how to think with a razor-sharp mind; that offers us a clarity that we should know but that nobody ever teaches us directly. This is it.

This book beautifully and brilliantly outlines strategies, and presents practical and easy-to-understand mental tools that really work, to literally rewire the brain for a rich and comprehensive understanding - not only of math and science, as the title would suggest, but of any content - through approaches more creative and effective than anything I’ve seen anywhere. It is engaging to read, worth its weight in gold, and has certainly sharpened the way I approach thinking optimally and solving problems.

Full disclosure: Although I have never met the author in person, I was fortunate enough to have been contacted by her and sent an early draft of this work for review and feedback. I recognized immediately that this work was not only significant and meaningful, but also incredibly well put together, and deserving of a place on the bookshelf of anyone with a serious interest in learning theory, education, psychology, andragogy, or just plain self-improvement. The final published version is even more powerful and masterfully crafted. I plan to re-read and re-absorb its invaluable lessons periodically.

This book is the real deal.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsFour Stars

Excelent Book.

Published 3 days ago by DANIEL VÁSQUEZ M
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Easy reading, interesting, educative and straight to the point. I wish I had this book back in school!

Published 7 days ago by Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 starsA good book

This is a great book, but I would not recommend the kindle version.
The kindle version is not horrible, but it was quite uncomfortable for me to use. Read more

Published 9 days ago by A Man on the Moon.
5.0 out of 5 starsThis is a great book for helping to overcome anxieties about learning...

This is a great book for helping to overcome anxieties about learning maths and science, a problem which had plagued me and held me back for quite a long time. Read more

Published 13 days ago by The QueenBean
4.0 out of 5 starsAwesome

Great for anyone that has had a fear of math or science. This book will help guide you over the hurdles that you may face, and give you the confidence to never give up.

Published 17 days ago by Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsI also recommended doing the coursera course on Learning How to...

The author explains the concepts very well and these concepts can be related to an event in daily life. I also recommended doing the coursera course on Learning How to learning. Read more

Published 19 days ago by Anirudh Varanasi
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Very insightful.

Published 23 days ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsWish I had this years ago.

Love all the practical techniques in this book. Currently using it for a programming bootcamp.

Published 25 days ago by Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

This was a great book that was full of a lot of practical and inspirational information.

Published 28 days ago by ken
5.0 out of 5 starsHelpful book

I thought this was quite useful to understanding how to learn anything in general, especially technical topics. I should've had this while in grad school.

Published 28 days ago by VictorH

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