The Number Devil
Hans Magnus Enzensberger
A boy meets a devil in his dreams who shows him how numbers really work.
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Book picks
Books for reading on the bus, in the holidays or whenever you are curious. None of them is a textbook. Pick one that sounds interesting and start anywhere.
Start here
Good for MYP 1 to 3 and anyone new to reading about maths
Humble Pi
Matt Parker
Funny true stories of what happens when maths goes wrong in the real world.
Alex’s Adventures in Numberland
Alex Bellos
A cheerful trip through the history and oddities of numbers.
Going further
Good for MYP 4 and 5 and the Diploma
The Maths of Life and Death
Kit Yates
How maths helps us understand medicine, risk, crime and everyday decisions.
How to Expect the Unexpected
Kit Yates
The maths of surprise, chance and why we are so often caught out.
Hello World
Hannah Fry
How algorithms and data shape our lives, and how to stay in charge of them.
How Not to Be Wrong
Jordan Ellenberg
Using mathematical thinking to see through everyday claims and statistics.
The Joy of x
Steven Strogatz
A clear, friendly tour of big ideas from arithmetic to calculus.
Problem solving and competitions
For students who like a challenge
How to Solve It
George Pólya
The classic guide to getting unstuck, written by a great teacher.
Things to Make and Do in the Fourth Dimension
Matt Parker
Puzzles, experiments and surprises to try for yourself.
Feeling more confident
For students, parents and teachers
Mathematical Mindsets
Jo Boaler
Why anyone can learn maths, and how to build a growth mindset towards it.
Limitless Mind
Jo Boaler
How the way we think about learning shapes what we can do.
These are starting suggestions. Ask your teacher for more, or for a title you can borrow.