I've wondered the same thing. Moreover, math books tend to prove the most general case of every theorem first, rather than work up with the special cases which

I've wondered the same thing. Moreover, math books tend to prove the most general case of every theorem first, rather than work up with the special cases which were the reason anyone thought about the theorem to begin with. It is strangely possible to learn how to prove quite abstract and difficult theorems without actually learning much about what the theorems mean. In the process of doing this one's ability to really think about mathematics or formulate new questions worth asking, is at best not developed and at worst stunted.