The first scientific entry in the acclaimed art of mentoring series from basic books letters to a young mathematician tells readers what ian stewart wishes he had known when he was a student and young faculty member subjects ranging from the philosophical to the practical what mathematics is and why its worth doing the relationship between logic and proof the role of beauty in . Buy letters to a young mathematician art of mentoring new ed by stewart ian isbn 9780465082322 from amazons book store everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Letters to a young mathematician art of mentoring ian stewart as the title suggests this book is written in the form of letters to a young mathematician offering advice and generally discussing what mathematics is and what it means to be a mathematician. This new entry in the art of mentoring series takes the form of letters from a fictitious mathematician to his niece the letters span a period of 20 years from the time the niece is thinking about studying mathematics in high school through the early years of her academic career. Letters to a young mathematician portrays the life of a mathematician to a hypothetical young