Wider reading in maths

Almost everything on the popular maths page suits this age group too, and that is where I would start. This page is just a few slightly harder things I have enjoyed, where there is more actual maths on the page.

They are still books to read rather than work through. There are places where it is worth stopping to think about the maths before moving on, but nothing here is textbook style.

All the books below link to Amazon, so please use those links if this page has been useful to you!

Godel, Escher, Bach

It’s hard to explain the ways in which this book educates, entertains and inspires. The ultimate goal is perhaps an understanding of Godel’s Incompleteness Theorem, also exploring the common theme of self-reference incredible mathematical art of Escher and the fugues of Bach. It’s an epic book that has inspired entire lecture courses and may take more than one read to truly appreciate.

Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
Douglas Hofstadter

The Colossal Book of Mathematics
Martin Gardner

The Colossal Book of Mathematics

Martin Gardner wrote so much so well about mathematics, inspiring generations of students. This book consists of 50 short chapters, each of which is a delightful journey into a fascinating but accessible mathematical curiosity across a broad range of types of recreational mathematics.

What is Mathematics?

A classic book examining a range of fundamental questions across a range of areas of pure mathematics.

What Is Mathematics? An Elementary Approach to Ideas and Methods
Richard Courant

Proofs and Refutations
Imre Lakatos

Proofs and Refutations – Imre Lakatos

Contains incredible insight into the nature of mathematical proofs, written as a dialogue between teacher and students, exploring a range of interesting mathematical theorems and statements that claim to prove them.