Summary of A Mind For Numbers

A Mind For Numbers is a book by Barbara Oakley, an engineer and professor at Oakland University. In this book, she explains how anyone can learn difficult concepts in math and science. She highlights the importance of both clever study techniques and developing a “growth mindset”. Rather than seeing a difficult subject such as math as intimidating, this book helps to break it down into achievable pieces by first understanding the problem, learning to focus, and then learning to apply problem solving techniques. With these principles Oakley teaches how to turn math from a painful experience into an enjoyable one. Through autobiographical anecdotes, she explains concepts such as procrastination, focus, and motivation as well as offering additional strategies and resources for readers. This book is written for both beginning and advanced learners in any STEM field.