Math Mind

The Simple Path to Loving Math

By: Shalinee Sharma

Narrated by: Shalinee Sharma

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's summary

Bust the math myths that are holding you and your kids back and learn the importance of numeracy with this one-of-a-kind resource for parents, educators, and policymakers

Shalinee Sharma is one of the world’s top experts on math learning, but when she was in school, she sat in the back row, unsure if she could ever master the subject. Many of us buy into the idea that some people are innately good at math and others just won’t ever succeed at it—but it’s not true, and numeracy is as important as literacy when it comes to opening doors in life.

Sharma shows how complex problem solving and puzzle solving, abstract and logical thinking, developing fluency with numbers, and cultivating persistence in math are crucial skills for success that can be taught to everyone and how math, far from being a dry, dull exercise, shares common ground with art and creativity. She also debunks the myths that prevent us from learning and enjoying math, with chapters dedicated to the three roadblocks that discourage adults and kids from learning.

With instructive line drawings throughout, Sharma explains the math instinct that all humans have from birth, and better, more intuitive ways to solve math problems that are both rigorous and accessible. For anyone who has ever thought you’re “bad at math” but wants to get good—for your children and for yourself—Math Mind contains the guidance, takeaways, and specific approaches you need to learn to love numbers.

* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF that contains select equations and other visuals from the book.

©2024 Shalinee Sharma (P)2024 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“If I had a magic wand, I’d want every parent and math teacher in America to read this book. Shalinee Sharma proves that math can be creative, beautiful, wondrous and soothing, and it should be taught that way.”—Amanda Ripley, New York Times bestselling author, The Smartest Kids in the World

"In this timely and accessible book, Shalinee Sharma challenges not only the way we’ve been teaching math but also the way we’ve been conceptualizing it—as the province of a select few. She demonstrates that all kids can be 'math kids,' enjoying not only a greater chance of success in life but also an appreciation of the beauty of numbers."—Natalie Wexler, author of The Knowledge Gap

"This book should be read by every parent and educator—those who love math and, especially, those who think they do not."—Emily Oster, New York Times bestselling author, Cribsheet, and CEO & Founder of ParentData