It's a Wonderful Subject

Another short clip today of Steven Strogatz (from about a year ago at the World Science Festival), explaining simply why he's motivated to know and teach math:



I recently finished reading Dr. Strogatz's 2009 "The Calculus of Friendship" for the second time (having loved it the first time around), and oddly, perhaps because of the holidays approaching, it caused me to think of the old Jimmy Stewart movie, "It's a Wonderful Life," a film often viewed as a tradition for this festive (and nostalgic) time of year. I've never made a point of re-watching particular movies at particular seasons, but have to admit I'm now thinking of making Dr. Strogatz's book my own personal tradition to re-read each year as the holidays approach. It's a wonderful, if subdued, tale, and one wishes that everyone, whatever field you're in, could have a "Joff" in their lives... or... be a "Joff" to others (..."Joff" being Steven's inspiring high school math teacher).



ADDENDUM:  Now, coincidentally, The Aperiodical blog has just put up a (15-min.) student-made documentary about doing/teaching mathematics:

http://aperiodical.com/2014/11/logically-policed/