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Hi Scott, I got interested in Quantum Computing, and fundamental mathematics a week ago. Ever since, I'm reading your book `Quantum Computing since Democritus`.

Hi Scott, I got interested in Quantum Computing, and fundamental mathematics a week ago. Ever since, I'm reading your book `Quantum Computing since Democritus`. I discovered your blog (oh and it's such a joy to read!). Today I run into your podcasts and AMA. This is going to get overwhelming very soon, I feel. Couple things: your book is an amazing repertoire of abstractions, theorems, phenomenon and whatnots. Does it get overwhelming sometimes walking down the street like normal people, with that deep an understanding of these domains? I personally think that your book is a nice place to start with, in the domain(s) of fundamental mathematics. The text gives a nice idea of the depth I'll encounter in these fields (I think). Keepin' it real helps me, an engineering grad, to not pass it up as ravings of men with too much time on their hands. Do you think your book should be read in this context? What else would you recommend, if any?

ScottAaronson 8y ago
Knowing more math than most of the people who you pass on the street, but at the same time having vastly inferior social skills to them, is something that you sort of get used to in childhood. :-) You should keep in mind, also, that as a theoretical computer scientist, I spend a lot of my time hanging around people who are abnormal in more-or-less the same ways I am, and in many cases more so. Besides QCSD, I’d try Mermin’s Quantum Computer Science: An Introduction for QC, or any of my 50 favorite books from this list https://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=3679 https://www.scottaaronson.com/blog/?p=3679 if you’re just looking for some interesting reading material.