Думай как математик

To get a motivation to do something is an easy thing. I mean, when you get an access to hundreds of thousands of Ted-videos, when there're, like, millions of books on the topic of procrastination, when the idols of our generation are not really rock stars and movie actors, but businessmen with one hell of a complicated life stories (Steve Jobs, Ilon Musk, Richard Branson... You know them all, don't you?). You get the push to do something from books, movies, social networks... But the problem is, it's usually a very brief thing.
Motivation doesn't last 'cause we don't know how to use it, that's the ugly truth. And that is why "A Mind For Numbers" is so special: it's not only about motivation, but about actual reasons why we procrastinate so much and (the most important thing) how precisely you can fight your longing for doing something, even if it is really important for you or just a second ago felt the most promising idea you’ve ever encounter.
We all had (and still have) these awful moments, right, when you tried to do something, failed and ended up thinking "well, it's just not for me. I guess I wasn't born for Math\Physics\Spanish\Gardening\god knows what".
You know what?
You just didn't try enough.
Get good at it (whatever it is), and then see if you want to quit.
And "A Mind For Numbers" is here to help you get where you want to be. Easy-to-get explanation of how your brain works and who are your inner zombies, what you can actually do to fight your procrastination and, well, of course, more motivating stories since they work so well!
I came across this book from Coursera's brilliant "Learning how to learn" course made by this book's author Barb Oakley. I wish I read the book first, since after the fun and useful (exciting, even) course book seems a little slow and even boring, but it is still a good read. (And we all get the information differently, some prefer reading, someone enjoys listening, it's up to you!)
The only bad thing in this book is its title. "A Mind For Numbers" is a very misleading one, since the book is not really about math and science (and not about algebra as well). "Learning How To Learn" sounds so much better, but in the course by this name you'll find more examples and interviews of completely different experts (from engineering to polyglots) while the book's examples are mostly math ones.
I would suggest you to open Coursera's "Learning How To Learn" and listen to just one lesson with Barbara Oakley before reading the book. She is an awesome teacher and a wonderful (seems so!) person, and just hearing her voice through all the book was a nice thing. And if you want to change the way you look at things and the way you think, just open this book and enjoy it. Try technics which felt good for you, chin up and remember that Lady Luck favors the ones who tries!

Честно, я даже не знаю, кому могут пригодиться такие "советы" учиться маткматике и естественным наукам. Причем, МАТЕМАТИКА И ЕСТЕСТВЕННЫЕ НАУКИ в тексте выделяется все время (чуть ли не на каждой странице) как нечто такое, к чему стоит относиться с трепетом и вот именно для изучения этих дисциплин и нужны специальные навыки и знания, которые должна помочь развить эта книга.
По факату - сто раз об одном и том же, причем, очевидные базовые "правила", котрые еще со школьной скамьи известны детям советского и постсоветского пространства.
Осилил половину книги и для себя решил, что время на это я тратить больше не буду, лучше пойду поучусь действительно чему-то интересному и полезному

Не верный перевод названия книги, привел к большим продажам но и большим разочарованиям.

Барбара ведёт курс.
"Learning how to learn".
Научить учиться.
Так точнее. Думать как математик она не научит).

И этой теме у нее посвящено несколько книг.
Мне книга оказалось полезной. И даже в чем-то настольной.
Согласна, что часть можно было сократить. Так как несколько раз в разных формах звучат ключевые мысли.

Мне понравилась развернутая рецензия от Комарова об этой книге опубликованной здесь. Она помогла понять, что можно почитать с более углубленной подачей.