The I Hate Mathematics! Book

Brown Paper School Book

by Marilyn Burns

This book is for non-believers of all ages. It was written especially for children who have been convinced by the attitudes of adults that mathematics is (1) impossible (2) only for bright kids (3) no fun at all anyway. This book says that maths is nothing more than a way of looking at the world and that it can be relevant to everyday life (Street maths) and fun (How many sides does a banana have?). Hundreds of mathematical events, jokes, riddles, puzzles, investigations and experiments prove it!

Genres: Mathematics, Nonfiction, Childrens, Education, Science, Middle Grade

127 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Marilyn Meinhardt Burns is a mathematics educator and the author of over a dozen children's books on mathematics.

Reviews

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful book I read in the 6th grade for fun.

Contrary to its title, this book is actually all about the delights and joys of maths. It might as well have been titled, The 'I Love Mathematics' Book!

This book re-kindled my interest in maths and introduced me to many of its delights, years ahead of school. Topics that would later come back years and years ahead in college, I first stumbled across and devoured in this little book, among them probability, topology, permutations and combinations, number theory, and a lot of other good stuff.

I wish maths teachers everywhere would strive for communicating the real joy of maths to students instead of making it seem like a dry unenjoyable subject, which it most certainly is not.

What I loved about this book, is its choice in incorporating the 'big ideas' - ideas that will make the 11 year old kid see the world in a new mathematical light. Maths as it relates to the world. I can definitely remember having my 11 year old mind blown by contemplating the mysteries of the natural world this book introduced me to, through the medium of mathematical ideas, puzzles and riddles.

Aside from all that, this book is spectacularly funny. There are lots of jokes splashed amongst numbers, graphs, and charts. It is also written with some really clever humour, lots of witty and sarcastic quips in between.

There is nothing kids enjoy and need more than having their curiosity whetted and fed. We need more books like these.

[Runa]

I read this book in my childhood and now once again. I always liked the other book, "Math for Smarty Pants" much better, and still do. That book contained a bit of cute, quirky storytelling, with the reappearing characters in the comics as well as the Pig Eyes. This book, while just as quirky and does take math in a new light, doesn't have the hook the first had. Don't get me wrong, it was a great read and I'm sure it would do wonders for reluctant math students, but it is certainly not the best Marilyn Burns has to offer. The other thing, and there is a note in the back about it, is the lack of answers. Many questions are posed to problems that just can't really be solved at the given time, but you're left with no answer, not even a hint. This is quite bothersome.

Rating: 2.5/5

[Maren Swallow · Rating 5 out of 5]

INFORMATAIONAL:
I would definitely have this book in my classroom. It has a way of making math fun and showing you how math is everywhere around you in the world. It is filled with tons of ideas and challenges, magic tricks, riddles, it is way fun.

[Dierdre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite books in elementary school. I checked it out the the library many times. I need to share it with my children, as they also have somewhat negative feelings towards math.

[Abdulrahman · Rating 4 out of 5]

honestly, this book was useful, because it teaches you that you still have other fun things, that is related to mathematics.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a really good book that was about the common fears and misconceptions about mathematics while promoting a positive attitude toward the subject. The story is centered around a young girl who initially said "I hate mathematics!" Her teacher takes a creative approach to change her perspective. Throughout the book, the teacher engages the class in a series of fun and interactive math activities which include measuring, estimating, exploring geometric shapes, and solving math puzzles. I would use this in my classroom as a read-aloud and then have the students use the idea about positive math experiences in the classroom just like they did in the book. I would have the students integrate art into math by creating geometric art using shapes and patterns.

[Karen_educ250 · Rating 5 out of 5]

How I have used this book in the classroom...


I love this book. I use it to get my students interested in math. Simple as that. There are lots of tricks and games that students just eat up. I have four copies in my classroom. As soon as I start sharing excerpts from this book, there's a waiting list to check the books out.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book is written from a student's perspective outlining all the wrong ideas adults have about math and teaching it. It then explains "fun" activities for students to complete that involve math without you knowing you are doing math.

6th Grade Common Core Standards:
Expressions and Equations
6.EE.7

Geometry
6.G.4

*Available at the University of New Mexico Libraries*

[Marjorie Elwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish this had come with an answer book.... It's chock full of games and tricks that involve math but unfortunately, most of the patterns that would allow you to understand what you just did are never explained. Instead, the question is asked: "Do you understand the secret now?" Well, no. Still, the magic tricks - even if you can't understand them or explain why they work - are fun.

[AS · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a teacher who loves creative ways to present ideas to kids, I wanted to like this book, but I also felt like it was not "linear" enough for me. Too many things where I couldn't tell what the idea was, and too many things where I didn't see how a kid would approach the question. Too many things where an interesting idea stayed pretty vague.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

And this book didn't help matters unfortunately! Sometimes, I think some of us are just doomed. Marilyn Burns is great though and her "Book of Think" and "I Am Not a Short Adult!" were huge in my emotional/intellectual development!!!

[Charlotte Dungan · Rating 4 out of 5]

May use this for some hands-on math application. My 9 year old has enjoyed it enough to want to start a math club with some of the projects, so that is a pretty good endorsement!

Update: the first math club was wildly successful. Woo hoo'

[Miya · Rating 5 out of 5]

the title says it all...

[Patrick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Textbook, No Comment.

[Lillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This includes some less painful ways to approach math, and many fun applications. It's funny too.

[Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book I read years ago when I was in school. Definately made math more fun and interesting. Good book for anyone in grade school.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend gave me this book as a prank for my birthday when I was in 4th grade. As it turns out I loved it. It's still on my bookshelf today.

[Anne Harlan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. The tone is disarming without being too cute. The line drawings are expressive and engaging, and the side comments are hilarious.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still a good rainy day boredom fighter that has stood the test of time, building math concepts unbeknownst to math-haters everywhere...

[Maren Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this book! It seriously made me like math!

[Dee Export · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first non fiction book that I read when I was about 6 years old. It brings to me fond memories of visiting the local library with my grandmother. It also started my love for mathematics.

[Belle Meade School]

510

[Ew Lake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love it just as much as I did in fourth grade. Topology! Infinity! Slicing cones! All concepts brought up in How the Universe Got Its Spots. Didn't remember I'd been exposed to it all in 1976.

[Linda Hobbs]

Awesome! I love the way she teaches math; providing opportunities to problem solve and learning the why/how behind solving the problem