David Bessis received his PhD in pure mathematics from University Paris-Cité. After a career at Yale University, CNRS, and École normale supérieure (with research topics in algebra, geometry, and topology), his interests shifted from pure mathematics to machine learning, leading him to establish a technology company in this field. He lives in Paris, France. Kevin Frey received a PhD in English from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He lives in Kaneohe, HI.

A Project Syndicate Book of the Year 2025“One of the most wonderful things I’ve read in a very, very long time.”—Steven Strogatz, author of Infinite Powers“In this revealing book, David Bessis leads us on an earnest and personal journey into how to think mathematically: a process of exploration, making mistakes, and gradually correcting and improving one’s understanding.”—Terence Tao, 2006 Fields Medal laureate“Absolutely fantastic—a must‑read for anyone curious about what happens in our minds when we do mathematics.”—Hugo Duminil-Copin, 2022 Fields Medal laureate“This is a rare specimen: a mathematical self-improvement book. It’s full of playful, assertive, inventive coaching for becoming your best mathematical self.”—Ben Orlin, author of Math with Bad Drawings  “The inside story on how mathematicians think, how they choose their problems, how they avoid getting discouraged, and why common beliefs about mathematics are wrong. Brilliant, readable, and perceptive.”—Ian Stewart, author of What’s the Use?“This is an insightful, illuminating, and thought-provoking book, de-mystifying what it means and feels like to do mathematics.”—Eugenia Cheng, author of Is Math Real?, The Joy of Abstraction, and How to Bake Pi

David Bessis received his PhD in pure mathematics from University Paris-Cité. After a career at Yale University, CNRS, and École normale supérieure (with research topics in algebra, geometry, and topology), his interests shifted from pure mathematics to machine learning, leading him to establish a technology company in this field. He lives in Paris, France. Kevin Frey received a PhD in English from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He lives in Kaneohe, HI.

A Project Syndicate Book of the Year 2025“One of the most wonderful things I’ve read in a very, very long time.”—Steven Strogatz, author of Infinite Powers“In this revealing book, David Bessis leads us on an earnest and personal journey into how to think mathematically: a process of exploration, making mistakes, and gradually correcting and improving one’s understanding.”—Terence Tao, 2006 Fields Medal laureate“Absolutely fantastic—a must‑read for anyone curious about what happens in our minds when we do mathematics.”—Hugo Duminil-Copin, 2022 Fields Medal laureate“This is a rare specimen: a mathematical self-improvement book. It’s full of playful, assertive, inventive coaching for becoming your best mathematical self.”—Ben Orlin, author of Math with Bad Drawings  “The inside story on how mathematicians think, how they choose their problems, how they avoid getting discouraged, and why common beliefs about mathematics are wrong. Brilliant, readable, and perceptive.”—Ian Stewart, author of What’s the Use?“This is an insightful, illuminating, and thought-provoking book, de-mystifying what it means and feels like to do mathematics.”—Eugenia Cheng, author of Is Math Real?, The Joy of Abstraction, and How to Bake Pi

David Bessis received his PhD in pure mathematics from University Paris-Cité. After a career at Yale University, CNRS, and École normale supérieure (with research topics in algebra, geometry, and topology), his interests shifted from pure mathematics to machine learning, leading him to establish a technology company in this field. He lives in Paris, France. Kevin Frey received a PhD in English from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He lives in Kaneohe, HI.

A Project Syndicate Book of the Year 2025“One of the most wonderful things I’ve read in a very, very long time.”—Steven Strogatz, author of Infinite Powers“In this revealing book, David Bessis leads us on an earnest and personal journey into how to think mathematically: a process of exploration, making mistakes, and gradually correcting and improving one’s understanding.”—Terence Tao, 2006 Fields Medal laureate“Absolutely fantastic—a must‑read for anyone curious about what happens in our minds when we do mathematics.”—Hugo Duminil-Copin, 2022 Fields Medal laureate“This is a rare specimen: a mathematical self-improvement book. It’s full of playful, assertive, inventive coaching for becoming your best mathematical self.”—Ben Orlin, author of Math with Bad Drawings  “The inside story on how mathematicians think, how they choose their problems, how they avoid getting discouraged, and why common beliefs about mathematics are wrong. Brilliant, readable, and perceptive.”—Ian Stewart, author of What’s the Use?“This is an insightful, illuminating, and thought-provoking book, de-mystifying what it means and feels like to do mathematics.”—Eugenia Cheng, author of Is Math Real?, The Joy of Abstraction, and How to Bake Pi