Slashdot Mirror

You could start with O'Reilly's "Web Security, Privacy & Commerce" by Simson Garfinkel. It's a good high-level holistic view. Then you can drill down to specific books or websites about PHP and MySQL security.

The Education of T.C. Mits: What modern mathematics means to you, by Lillian R. Lieber.

This book explains non-Euclidean geometry, along with other math, in a way that just makes sense. It has a recommendation from Albert Einstein.

For more fiction, how about The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon, which Publisher's Weekly summarized as "Christopher Boone, the autistic 15-year-old narrator of this revelatory novel, relaxes by groaning and doing math problems in his head, eats red-but not yellow or brown-foods and screams when he is touched." It has math problems scattered throughout.

I'm also an educator and I recently picked up a book called "Over the Top Cranium Challenges" written by Ivan Moscovich and published as part of the Mensa group... which I think is some organization for people who are have genius level intelligence. Its a really great book that covers a wide variety of math concepts giving information along with puzzles and games. I suggest you look into books by Moscovich and the Mensa group. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=mensa+math&x=0&y=0 -check this for more Mensa math books

http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200140600
(no I'm not going to hyperlink it)

Good thing /. did it automagically!

I haven't seen anything that says if this has been changed with the updated device.

It's USB recharge, with a clever adapter so you can use an outlet as well: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001NIZB5M/ref=kinw_dp_shvlKindleOther_

Numbers and Symmetry: An Introduction to Algebra by Bernard L. Johnston, Fred Richman http://www.amazon.com/Numbers-Symmetry-Introduction-Bernard-Johnston/dp/084930301X Easy to read, very handy. I wish I had this book when I was a kid.

Yes.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OCXOZ2/ref=kin2w_ddp

"Kindle blogs [including Slashdot] are fully downloaded onto your Kindle so you can read them even when you're not wirelessly connected. And unlike RSS readers which often only provide headlines, blogs on Kindle contain full text content and images, and are updated wirelessly throughout the day."

But it isn't. Is it?

Yes they sell the complete package, but they also sell the OS,a la carte.

If they sold it as a complete package, then I'd understand the idea that the OS is only allowed to work on 'their' devices. But they don't. They sell the OS seperate from the machine.

And that's not an upgrade version, they sell upgrades too. Those require the previous version to install.

That means, that Apple is selling the OS seperately. Not as a complete package. And as many have proven, that OS can be installed on any sufficently compatible equipment with just a few tweaks, not just Apple's. So your whole house of card arguement falls down.

But it isn't. Is it?

Yes they sell the complete package, but they also sell the OS,a la carte.

If they sold it as a complete package, then I'd understand the idea that the OS is only allowed to work on 'their' devices. But they don't. They sell the OS seperate from the machine.

And that's not an upgrade version, they sell upgrades too. Those require the previous version to install.

That means, that Apple is selling the OS seperately. Not as a complete package. And as many have proven, that OS can be installed on any sufficently compatible equipment with just a few tweaks, not just Apple's. So your whole house of card arguement falls down.

I'm very pleased that you thought to mention Shannon, as I was thinking of a book by John R. Pierce, the inventor of the travelling wave tube that made satellite communications possible in the 60 's. Here's some other books by JR Pierce : First, Electrons and Waves, which I read in 10th grade and which set my future towards electronics : http://www.amazon.com/ELECTRONS-Introduction-science-electonics-Communication/dp/B000K6ZPP4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234204934&sr=1-1 Next is another book about Shannon, called An Introduction to Information Theory : http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Information-Theory-John-Pierce/dp/0486240614/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234205068&sr=1-1 which is a bit dated but chapter 9 has a story about hypercubes and information that is really fun and informative; and finally, moving to another favorite physicist, Richard Feynman, QED, which shows how puzzling even the simple things - light through glass - can surprise one with statistical physics : http://www.amazon.com/QED-Strange-Theory-Light-Matter/dp/0691024170/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234204485&sr=1-2 Enjoy !

I'm very pleased that you thought to mention Shannon, as I was thinking of a book by John R. Pierce, the inventor of the travelling wave tube that made satellite communications possible in the 60 's. Here's some other books by JR Pierce : First, Electrons and Waves, which I read in 10th grade and which set my future towards electronics : http://www.amazon.com/ELECTRONS-Introduction-science-electonics-Communication/dp/B000K6ZPP4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234204934&sr=1-1 Next is another book about Shannon, called An Introduction to Information Theory : http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Information-Theory-John-Pierce/dp/0486240614/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234205068&sr=1-1 which is a bit dated but chapter 9 has a story about hypercubes and information that is really fun and informative; and finally, moving to another favorite physicist, Richard Feynman, QED, which shows how puzzling even the simple things - light through glass - can surprise one with statistical physics : http://www.amazon.com/QED-Strange-Theory-Light-Matter/dp/0691024170/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234204485&sr=1-2 Enjoy !

I'm very pleased that you thought to mention Shannon, as I was thinking of a book by John R. Pierce, the inventor of the travelling wave tube that made satellite communications possible in the 60 's. Here's some other books by JR Pierce : First, Electrons and Waves, which I read in 10th grade and which set my future towards electronics : http://www.amazon.com/ELECTRONS-Introduction-science-electonics-Communication/dp/B000K6ZPP4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234204934&sr=1-1 Next is another book about Shannon, called An Introduction to Information Theory : http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Information-Theory-John-Pierce/dp/0486240614/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234205068&sr=1-1 which is a bit dated but chapter 9 has a story about hypercubes and information that is really fun and informative; and finally, moving to another favorite physicist, Richard Feynman, QED, which shows how puzzling even the simple things - light through glass - can surprise one with statistical physics : http://www.amazon.com/QED-Strange-Theory-Light-Matter/dp/0691024170/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234204485&sr=1-2 Enjoy !

I have a 1.0 Kindle.

This is what I gather. Yes, it's a proprietary format, but
according to Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200140600
(no I'm not going to hyperlink it)

they will convert personal documents you email to them.
They will email it back and you can download it to your Kindle or get
it over their Whispernet (aka cel phone tranmissions) for a small fee.
The do say PDFs are tricky to convert and might retain their original formatting
which will cause viewing problems.

The Kindle 1.0 beefs I had:

Page buttons placed to almost automatically get in the way when holding the device (Fixed in 2.0)
Page transitions slow (Fixed in 2.0)
Picture and diagram handling in books. (Possibly fixed in 2.0)

Color screen (not fixed in 2.0) I know it's going
to take a couple years for electronic ink to catch up with normal screen displays.

Why is a color screen an issue for text? Highlighting and diagram distinction for starters.
I work at a university. I looked at the Kindle as an inexpensive way for students to get most (or all)
their textbooks digitally. The $349 is nothing compared to the cash amounts students are bilked every year.
Amazon's Kindle content management hangs onto a copy for another download if necessary due to Kindle loss etc.
Although without color it makes most graphic examples in scientific texts impossible to read.

For straight text the Kindle is still the strongest Ebook reader out there for text. Plus Wireless download, basic internet surfing, audiobooks, mp3 player. OK, you get this all with a laptop, tablet, or now notebook, but not in
such a compact form.

If you can find anything better good on ya mate. Otherwise, I'll hang onto my 1.0 for awhile and upgrade
as time moves on.

I'm probably not playing to the crowd here, but in this case DRM whiners can either go home or hack around it.
For all my beefs the Kindle's still a nice reader.

I really enjoyed this - at least until I put it down to get a copy of mathematica to be better able to follow along and found out that would set me back $2k since I'm no longer a student. It is co-authored by Sarah Flannery, and is about her adventures in cryptography as a high school student. I found the math was introduced at a very approachable pace, and would expect other students to be motivated by seeing what she was able to come up with while she was still in high school herself. Who says girls can't do math?

http://www.amazon.com/Code-Mathematical-Journey-Sarah-Flannery/dp/1565123778

I have two recommendations.

1. `Concepts of Modern Mathematics', by Ian Stewart

Link

Some people here have recommended Courant and Robbins. This book is very similar, except that it was written about 30 years later (hence, is much more up-to-date) and is written in a lively, humorous, infomal style, with many whimsical pictures. It presents an excellent survey of all the core areas of modern mathematics (e.g. abstract algebra, topology, analysis, differential geometry, combinatorics, etc.), but pitched at the level of the intelligent highschool student.

2. `Visual Complex Analysis', by Tristan Needham

Link

A beautiful and very geometrically motivated introduction to complex analysis, full of amazing and imaginative pictures. The author tries, whenever possible, to avoid equation-mashing and instead appeals to the reader's geometric intuition. Interestingly, when Newton originally developed calculus (in the original `Principia Mathematica') he did not use modern `limit' arguments (these were developed later by Bolzano), but instead adapted methods of Euclidean geometry (think pictures of `infinitesimally thin triangles', etc.). This book returns to this approach. The result is not entirely `rigorous' (it can be frustrating to teach a university-level course in complex analysis out of this book), but is extremely geometrically intuitive. It also provides insight into how mathematicians `really' think about mathematics (which is different than the formal stuff we write when we want to make something precise and rigorous). When I first read this book, I often thought, `God I wish someone had given me a copy of this when I was in highschool'.

I have two recommendations.

1. `Concepts of Modern Mathematics', by Ian Stewart

Link

Some people here have recommended Courant and Robbins. This book is very similar, except that it was written about 30 years later (hence, is much more up-to-date) and is written in a lively, humorous, infomal style, with many whimsical pictures. It presents an excellent survey of all the core areas of modern mathematics (e.g. abstract algebra, topology, analysis, differential geometry, combinatorics, etc.), but pitched at the level of the intelligent highschool student.

2. `Visual Complex Analysis', by Tristan Needham

Link

A beautiful and very geometrically motivated introduction to complex analysis, full of amazing and imaginative pictures. The author tries, whenever possible, to avoid equation-mashing and instead appeals to the reader's geometric intuition. Interestingly, when Newton originally developed calculus (in the original `Principia Mathematica') he did not use modern `limit' arguments (these were developed later by Bolzano), but instead adapted methods of Euclidean geometry (think pictures of `infinitesimally thin triangles', etc.). This book returns to this approach. The result is not entirely `rigorous' (it can be frustrating to teach a university-level course in complex analysis out of this book), but is extremely geometrically intuitive. It also provides insight into how mathematicians `really' think about mathematics (which is different than the formal stuff we write when we want to make something precise and rigorous). When I first read this book, I often thought, `God I wish someone had given me a copy of this when I was in highschool'.

That is simply not true.

The kindle is far less robust than the Sony Reader 5xx series in terms of being able to be tossed around, scratch resistance and options for memory. With A SDHC and a Sony Mem Slot you can carry around 16 gigs of books, try that with a kindle. The only thing I would ever use a Kindle for is the Wikipedia anywhere feature.

One would hope that Amazon actually turned their review system to something useful for the company (instead of a massive drain of resources) by taking the 700 Kindle reviews into account.

Also if they have some basic matrix math you might try consider teaching them graph theory. Such as: Discrete Mathematical Models with Applications to Social, Biological, and Environmental Problems.

With graph theory you can motivate everything from network analysis to topology there are also very interesting modern biological applications (like fragment assembly).

Similarly another idea might be a book like: A First Course in Mathematical Modeling. You could get any of the older editions online for cheaper than the current one.

This book demonstrates the modeling process and considers a wide array of mathematics with a lot of primers on advanced topics without required previous experience in linear programming, summations, differential equations, and dimensional analysis among others.

Also if they have some basic matrix math you might try consider teaching them graph theory. Such as: Discrete Mathematical Models with Applications to Social, Biological, and Environmental Problems.

With graph theory you can motivate everything from network analysis to topology there are also very interesting modern biological applications (like fragment assembly).

Similarly another idea might be a book like: A First Course in Mathematical Modeling. You could get any of the older editions online for cheaper than the current one.

This book demonstrates the modeling process and considers a wide array of mathematics with a lot of primers on advanced topics without required previous experience in linear programming, summations, differential equations, and dimensional analysis among others.

Speaking of characters, how about a real life one? http://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Knew-Infinity-Ramanujan/dp/0671750615 Also, Hardy's "A mathematician's apology" would be good.

http://www.amazon.com/Godels-Proof-Ernest-Nagel/dp/0814758371/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234197936&sr=8-1

This is an awesome explanation of Goedel's arguments against PM. Plus, Hofstadter's preface to this edition is superb.

There are a lot of historic texts you can access parts or whole online. Otherwise some other books to consider might be.

The Structure of Proof: With Logic and Set Theory
Concrete Mathematics: A Foundation for Computer Science

Or if you feel like constructing your own based on something else you could couple this book with the episodes from the TV show and perhaps fit some data as examples of the wide applicability of mathematics. The Numbers Behind NUMB3RS: Solving Crime with Mathematics

This is just a small sampling of what could be. It depends on how much you want to fit to their current interests and career aspirations versus your own interest versus what they may see in college or simply later in life. You could show them higher things in statistics, computing, math itself, physics, biology. I mean the sky is the limit so more information would always be helpful. Any of the books I have put forward or many of the ones others have suggested seem to fit your criteria of being rigorous, but approachable.

There are a lot of historic texts you can access parts or whole online. Otherwise some other books to consider might be.

The Structure of Proof: With Logic and Set Theory
Concrete Mathematics: A Foundation for Computer Science

Or if you feel like constructing your own based on something else you could couple this book with the episodes from the TV show and perhaps fit some data as examples of the wide applicability of mathematics. The Numbers Behind NUMB3RS: Solving Crime with Mathematics

This is just a small sampling of what could be. It depends on how much you want to fit to their current interests and career aspirations versus your own interest versus what they may see in college or simply later in life. You could show them higher things in statistics, computing, math itself, physics, biology. I mean the sky is the limit so more information would always be helpful. Any of the books I have put forward or many of the ones others have suggested seem to fit your criteria of being rigorous, but approachable.

There are a lot of historic texts you can access parts or whole online. Otherwise some other books to consider might be.

The Structure of Proof: With Logic and Set Theory
Concrete Mathematics: A Foundation for Computer Science

Or if you feel like constructing your own based on something else you could couple this book with the episodes from the TV show and perhaps fit some data as examples of the wide applicability of mathematics. The Numbers Behind NUMB3RS: Solving Crime with Mathematics

This is just a small sampling of what could be. It depends on how much you want to fit to their current interests and career aspirations versus your own interest versus what they may see in college or simply later in life. You could show them higher things in statistics, computing, math itself, physics, biology. I mean the sky is the limit so more information would always be helpful. Any of the books I have put forward or many of the ones others have suggested seem to fit your criteria of being rigorous, but approachable.

FlatLand: Creates a real understanding of dimensions. Great book for challenging your thinking. Also be sure to pick out the movie. This could truly be 2001 for math geeks.

A Mathematician reads a newspaper: Goes through a newspaper, and explains the math behind it. All topics covered, politics, business, lifestyle, and much more.

Innumeracy: What happens if you don't know math? Total societal collapse. Okay maybe that's a little extreme, but this subject is important, and everybody should understand it.

Why do buses come in threes": A personal favorite. Shows how math plays into everyday life. Touches every subject. This book is interesting, informative, and amusing. I highly recommend it.

How long is a piece of string: Sequel to the previous book. Not quite as good, but still better than most.

Conned Again, Watson: Where else can you have Sherlock Holmes explaining probability and statistics to a poor unlearned Dr. Watson.

A History of PI: This is more of a history book than a math book. But it is a history of math, or specifically pi.

The Joy of pi: Like the previous book, but less serious.

Euclid's Window: Now it is really time to bend the old mind. History, Adventure, and non-Euclidean Geometry. Great stuff.

Hyperspace: You thought 4 dimensions were bad? How about 10.

A Mathematician's Apology: Since I started with a classic. I will also end with a classic. G. H. Hardy's book is a must-read for any serious math aspirant.

FlatLand: Creates a real understanding of dimensions. Great book for challenging your thinking. Also be sure to pick out the movie. This could truly be 2001 for math geeks.

A Mathematician reads a newspaper: Goes through a newspaper, and explains the math behind it. All topics covered, politics, business, lifestyle, and much more.

Innumeracy: What happens if you don't know math? Total societal collapse. Okay maybe that's a little extreme, but this subject is important, and everybody should understand it.

Why do buses come in threes": A personal favorite. Shows how math plays into everyday life. Touches every subject. This book is interesting, informative, and amusing. I highly recommend it.

How long is a piece of string: Sequel to the previous book. Not quite as good, but still better than most.

Conned Again, Watson: Where else can you have Sherlock Holmes explaining probability and statistics to a poor unlearned Dr. Watson.

A History of PI: This is more of a history book than a math book. But it is a history of math, or specifically pi.

The Joy of pi: Like the previous book, but less serious.

Euclid's Window: Now it is really time to bend the old mind. History, Adventure, and non-Euclidean Geometry. Great stuff.

Hyperspace: You thought 4 dimensions were bad? How about 10.

A Mathematician's Apology: Since I started with a classic. I will also end with a classic. G. H. Hardy's book is a must-read for any serious math aspirant.

FlatLand: Creates a real understanding of dimensions. Great book for challenging your thinking. Also be sure to pick out the movie. This could truly be 2001 for math geeks.

A Mathematician reads a newspaper: Goes through a newspaper, and explains the math behind it. All topics covered, politics, business, lifestyle, and much more.

Innumeracy: What happens if you don't know math? Total societal collapse. Okay maybe that's a little extreme, but this subject is important, and everybody should understand it.

Why do buses come in threes": A personal favorite. Shows how math plays into everyday life. Touches every subject. This book is interesting, informative, and amusing. I highly recommend it.

How long is a piece of string: Sequel to the previous book. Not quite as good, but still better than most.

Conned Again, Watson: Where else can you have Sherlock Holmes explaining probability and statistics to a poor unlearned Dr. Watson.

A History of PI: This is more of a history book than a math book. But it is a history of math, or specifically pi.

The Joy of pi: Like the previous book, but less serious.

Euclid's Window: Now it is really time to bend the old mind. History, Adventure, and non-Euclidean Geometry. Great stuff.

Hyperspace: You thought 4 dimensions were bad? How about 10.

A Mathematician's Apology: Since I started with a classic. I will also end with a classic. G. H. Hardy's book is a must-read for any serious math aspirant.

FlatLand: Creates a real understanding of dimensions. Great book for challenging your thinking. Also be sure to pick out the movie. This could truly be 2001 for math geeks.

A Mathematician reads a newspaper: Goes through a newspaper, and explains the math behind it. All topics covered, politics, business, lifestyle, and much more.

Innumeracy: What happens if you don't know math? Total societal collapse. Okay maybe that's a little extreme, but this subject is important, and everybody should understand it.

Why do buses come in threes": A personal favorite. Shows how math plays into everyday life. Touches every subject. This book is interesting, informative, and amusing. I highly recommend it.

How long is a piece of string: Sequel to the previous book. Not quite as good, but still better than most.

Conned Again, Watson: Where else can you have Sherlock Holmes explaining probability and statistics to a poor unlearned Dr. Watson.

A History of PI: This is more of a history book than a math book. But it is a history of math, or specifically pi.

The Joy of pi: Like the previous book, but less serious.

Euclid's Window: Now it is really time to bend the old mind. History, Adventure, and non-Euclidean Geometry. Great stuff.

Hyperspace: You thought 4 dimensions were bad? How about 10.

A Mathematician's Apology: Since I started with a classic. I will also end with a classic. G. H. Hardy's book is a must-read for any serious math aspirant.

FlatLand: Creates a real understanding of dimensions. Great book for challenging your thinking. Also be sure to pick out the movie. This could truly be 2001 for math geeks.

A Mathematician reads a newspaper: Goes through a newspaper, and explains the math behind it. All topics covered, politics, business, lifestyle, and much more.

Innumeracy: What happens if you don't know math? Total societal collapse. Okay maybe that's a little extreme, but this subject is important, and everybody should understand it.

Why do buses come in threes": A personal favorite. Shows how math plays into everyday life. Touches every subject. This book is interesting, informative, and amusing. I highly recommend it.

How long is a piece of string: Sequel to the previous book. Not quite as good, but still better than most.

Conned Again, Watson: Where else can you have Sherlock Holmes explaining probability and statistics to a poor unlearned Dr. Watson.

A History of PI: This is more of a history book than a math book. But it is a history of math, or specifically pi.

The Joy of pi: Like the previous book, but less serious.

Euclid's Window: Now it is really time to bend the old mind. History, Adventure, and non-Euclidean Geometry. Great stuff.

Hyperspace: You thought 4 dimensions were bad? How about 10.

A Mathematician's Apology: Since I started with a classic. I will also end with a classic. G. H. Hardy's book is a must-read for any serious math aspirant.

FlatLand: Creates a real understanding of dimensions. Great book for challenging your thinking. Also be sure to pick out the movie. This could truly be 2001 for math geeks.

A Mathematician reads a newspaper: Goes through a newspaper, and explains the math behind it. All topics covered, politics, business, lifestyle, and much more.

Innumeracy: What happens if you don't know math? Total societal collapse. Okay maybe that's a little extreme, but this subject is important, and everybody should understand it.

Why do buses come in threes": A personal favorite. Shows how math plays into everyday life. Touches every subject. This book is interesting, informative, and amusing. I highly recommend it.

How long is a piece of string: Sequel to the previous book. Not quite as good, but still better than most.

Conned Again, Watson: Where else can you have Sherlock Holmes explaining probability and statistics to a poor unlearned Dr. Watson.

A History of PI: This is more of a history book than a math book. But it is a history of math, or specifically pi.

The Joy of pi: Like the previous book, but less serious.

Euclid's Window: Now it is really time to bend the old mind. History, Adventure, and non-Euclidean Geometry. Great stuff.

Hyperspace: You thought 4 dimensions were bad? How about 10.

A Mathematician's Apology: Since I started with a classic. I will also end with a classic. G. H. Hardy's book is a must-read for any serious math aspirant.

FlatLand: Creates a real understanding of dimensions. Great book for challenging your thinking. Also be sure to pick out the movie. This could truly be 2001 for math geeks.

A Mathematician reads a newspaper: Goes through a newspaper, and explains the math behind it. All topics covered, politics, business, lifestyle, and much more.

Innumeracy: What happens if you don't know math? Total societal collapse. Okay maybe that's a little extreme, but this subject is important, and everybody should understand it.

Why do buses come in threes": A personal favorite. Shows how math plays into everyday life. Touches every subject. This book is interesting, informative, and amusing. I highly recommend it.

How long is a piece of string: Sequel to the previous book. Not quite as good, but still better than most.

Conned Again, Watson: Where else can you have Sherlock Holmes explaining probability and statistics to a poor unlearned Dr. Watson.

A History of PI: This is more of a history book than a math book. But it is a history of math, or specifically pi.

The Joy of pi: Like the previous book, but less serious.

Euclid's Window: Now it is really time to bend the old mind. History, Adventure, and non-Euclidean Geometry. Great stuff.

Hyperspace: You thought 4 dimensions were bad? How about 10.

A Mathematician's Apology: Since I started with a classic. I will also end with a classic. G. H. Hardy's book is a must-read for any serious math aspirant.

FlatLand: Creates a real understanding of dimensions. Great book for challenging your thinking. Also be sure to pick out the movie. This could truly be 2001 for math geeks.

A Mathematician reads a newspaper: Goes through a newspaper, and explains the math behind it. All topics covered, politics, business, lifestyle, and much more.

Innumeracy: What happens if you don't know math? Total societal collapse. Okay maybe that's a little extreme, but this subject is important, and everybody should understand it.

Why do buses come in threes": A personal favorite. Shows how math plays into everyday life. Touches every subject. This book is interesting, informative, and amusing. I highly recommend it.

How long is a piece of string: Sequel to the previous book. Not quite as good, but still better than most.

Conned Again, Watson: Where else can you have Sherlock Holmes explaining probability and statistics to a poor unlearned Dr. Watson.

A History of PI: This is more of a history book than a math book. But it is a history of math, or specifically pi.

The Joy of pi: Like the previous book, but less serious.

Euclid's Window: Now it is really time to bend the old mind. History, Adventure, and non-Euclidean Geometry. Great stuff.

Hyperspace: You thought 4 dimensions were bad? How about 10.

A Mathematician's Apology: Since I started with a classic. I will also end with a classic. G. H. Hardy's book is a must-read for any serious math aspirant.

FlatLand: Creates a real understanding of dimensions. Great book for challenging your thinking. Also be sure to pick out the movie. This could truly be 2001 for math geeks.

A Mathematician reads a newspaper: Goes through a newspaper, and explains the math behind it. All topics covered, politics, business, lifestyle, and much more.

Innumeracy: What happens if you don't know math? Total societal collapse. Okay maybe that's a little extreme, but this subject is important, and everybody should understand it.

Why do buses come in threes": A personal favorite. Shows how math plays into everyday life. Touches every subject. This book is interesting, informative, and amusing. I highly recommend it.

How long is a piece of string: Sequel to the previous book. Not quite as good, but still better than most.

Conned Again, Watson: Where else can you have Sherlock Holmes explaining probability and statistics to a poor unlearned Dr. Watson.

A History of PI: This is more of a history book than a math book. But it is a history of math, or specifically pi.

The Joy of pi: Like the previous book, but less serious.

Euclid's Window: Now it is really time to bend the old mind. History, Adventure, and non-Euclidean Geometry. Great stuff.

Hyperspace: You thought 4 dimensions were bad? How about 10.

A Mathematician's Apology: Since I started with a classic. I will also end with a classic. G. H. Hardy's book is a must-read for any serious math aspirant.

FlatLand: Creates a real understanding of dimensions. Great book for challenging your thinking. Also be sure to pick out the movie. This could truly be 2001 for math geeks.

A Mathematician reads a newspaper: Goes through a newspaper, and explains the math behind it. All topics covered, politics, business, lifestyle, and much more.

Innumeracy: What happens if you don't know math? Total societal collapse. Okay maybe that's a little extreme, but this subject is important, and everybody should understand it.

Why do buses come in threes": A personal favorite. Shows how math plays into everyday life. Touches every subject. This book is interesting, informative, and amusing. I highly recommend it.

How long is a piece of string: Sequel to the previous book. Not quite as good, but still better than most.

Conned Again, Watson: Where else can you have Sherlock Holmes explaining probability and statistics to a poor unlearned Dr. Watson.

A History of PI: This is more of a history book than a math book. But it is a history of math, or specifically pi.

The Joy of pi: Like the previous book, but less serious.

Euclid's Window: Now it is really time to bend the old mind. History, Adventure, and non-Euclidean Geometry. Great stuff.

Hyperspace: You thought 4 dimensions were bad? How about 10.

A Mathematician's Apology: Since I started with a classic. I will also end with a classic. G. H. Hardy's book is a must-read for any serious math aspirant.

FlatLand: Creates a real understanding of dimensions. Great book for challenging your thinking. Also be sure to pick out the movie. This could truly be 2001 for math geeks.

A Mathematician reads a newspaper: Goes through a newspaper, and explains the math behind it. All topics covered, politics, business, lifestyle, and much more.

Innumeracy: What happens if you don't know math? Total societal collapse. Okay maybe that's a little extreme, but this subject is important, and everybody should understand it.

Why do buses come in threes": A personal favorite. Shows how math plays into everyday life. Touches every subject. This book is interesting, informative, and amusing. I highly recommend it.

How long is a piece of string: Sequel to the previous book. Not quite as good, but still better than most.

Conned Again, Watson: Where else can you have Sherlock Holmes explaining probability and statistics to a poor unlearned Dr. Watson.

A History of PI: This is more of a history book than a math book. But it is a history of math, or specifically pi.

The Joy of pi: Like the previous book, but less serious.

Euclid's Window: Now it is really time to bend the old mind. History, Adventure, and non-Euclidean Geometry. Great stuff.

Hyperspace: You thought 4 dimensions were bad? How about 10.

A Mathematician's Apology: Since I started with a classic. I will also end with a classic. G. H. Hardy's book is a must-read for any serious math aspirant.

A Certain Ambiguity: A Mathematical Novel by Gaurav Suri (Author), Hartosh Singh Bal (Author)

This is a wonderful book I enjoyed reading myself ( 60 years old ). The main characters are college students - I think high schoolers can identify. The math in the story is presented in a very understandable way. woven in is a discussion of the different infinities and the basics of Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometries.

amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Certain-Ambiguity-Mathematical-Novel/dp/0691127093/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1234194672&sr=8-1

You can try "Proofs Without Words", which is an entertaining presentation of dozens of mathematical proofs using pictures only.

See http://www.amazon.com/Proofs-without-Words-Exercises-Classroom/dp/0883857006.

Michio Kaku's book Hyperspace provides an interesting use of the dimensional analogies from Flatland framed in the context of modern String Theory. The distinction between a spatial and a temporal fourth dimension are also examined.

Carrie Fisher just released her autobiography "Wishful Drinking". The cover shows her, as Princess Leia, nearly passed out with martini glass in hand and pills nearby.

Don't think she'll be saving us from the Empire this time around.

http://www.amazon.com/Mathematicians-Delight-Dover-Science-Books/dp/0486462404 Some great stuff including finite differences that I use in teaching all the time. Sawyer was interested in mechanical representations of mathematical ideas, makes for an interesting slant on things. Anything you can find by Sawyer is worth a look. A Path To Modern Mathematics is also good but harder to find/out of print. http://www.amazon.com/Path-Modern-Mathematics-W-Sawyer/dp/B000GRL6ZA

http://www.amazon.com/Mathematicians-Delight-Dover-Science-Books/dp/0486462404 Some great stuff including finite differences that I use in teaching all the time. Sawyer was interested in mechanical representations of mathematical ideas, makes for an interesting slant on things. Anything you can find by Sawyer is worth a look. A Path To Modern Mathematics is also good but harder to find/out of print. http://www.amazon.com/Path-Modern-Mathematics-W-Sawyer/dp/B000GRL6ZA

I would have to second this recommendation and extend it. Roger Penrose , is an incredible mathematical physicist and yet managed to pen a highly readable and even entertaining book that asks more deep questions than a teenager can shake a stick at. Reading this book as a teen made me want to be a physicist, a computer scientist, a philosopher and a mathematician all at the same time. He also wrote two follow on works, Shadows of the Mind: A Search for the Missing Science of Consciousness, and The Large, the Small and the Human Mind. Again, this is not only about math. Instead it can be seen as a book about many things to which math is a gateway that just happens to talk about the math involved along the way.

I would have to second this recommendation and extend it. Roger Penrose , is an incredible mathematical physicist and yet managed to pen a highly readable and even entertaining book that asks more deep questions than a teenager can shake a stick at. Reading this book as a teen made me want to be a physicist, a computer scientist, a philosopher and a mathematician all at the same time. He also wrote two follow on works, Shadows of the Mind: A Search for the Missing Science of Consciousness, and The Large, the Small and the Human Mind. Again, this is not only about math. Instead it can be seen as a book about many things to which math is a gateway that just happens to talk about the math involved along the way.

Amazon link

No doubt some of the ideas in here are outdated by now, but it almost certainly will fire the imagination of some of your students.

Who says great figures have to keep on creating just to be respected? Bringing an entire new field of technology like personal computing into being is enough of an accomplishment that he can rest on his laurels. I'd only complain that while Slashdot celebrates Woz, I feel this community really neglects other great PC engineers of the '70s, and has seemed to forget a lot of the details of the era's culture, for which I'd recommend Freiberger's Fire in the Valley

Here are some books I've enjoyed reading and would highly recommend to interested students: The man who loved only numbers, by Paul Hoffman The Wild Numbers, by Philibert Schogt Chaos, by James Gleick - this one is a classic and is a fantastic introduction to the field of chaos, fractals, etc. The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers, by David Wells - I'm reading this at present, it's easy to pick up at random and just read, and quite fascinating. How about How to Solve it, by Polya? Enigma, by Robert Harris - you can recommend the film too. Very very very good indeed. A Beautiful Mind, by Silvia Nasar, you can find it here http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Mind-Mathematical-Genius-Laureate/dp/0743224574 Who got Einstein's office? by Ed Regis http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=einstein's+office&x=0&y=0 Simon Singh's books - I know they've already been recommended but I just wanted to add my vote, they're brilliant A history of mathematics by Boyer & Merzbach http://www.amazon.com/History-Mathematics-Carl-B-Boyer/dp/0471543977 There's a few more for you.

Here are some books I've enjoyed reading and would highly recommend to interested students: The man who loved only numbers, by Paul Hoffman The Wild Numbers, by Philibert Schogt Chaos, by James Gleick - this one is a classic and is a fantastic introduction to the field of chaos, fractals, etc. The Penguin Dictionary of Curious and Interesting Numbers, by David Wells - I'm reading this at present, it's easy to pick up at random and just read, and quite fascinating. How about How to Solve it, by Polya? Enigma, by Robert Harris - you can recommend the film too. Very very very good indeed. A Beautiful Mind, by Silvia Nasar, you can find it here http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Mind-Mathematical-Genius-Laureate/dp/0743224574 Who got Einstein's office? by Ed Regis http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=einstein's+office&x=0&y=0 Simon Singh's books - I know they've already been recommended but I just wanted to add my vote, they're brilliant A history of mathematics by Boyer & Merzbach http://www.amazon.com/History-Mathematics-Carl-B-Boyer/dp/0471543977 There's a few more for you.