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This is nice initiative and any attempt to make mathematics more accessible is a value added to society in my book. However, saying you will learn "mathematica
by imranq 5y ago
This is nice initiative and any attempt to make mathematics more accessible is a value added to society in my book. However, saying you will learn "mathematical thinking" by watching 1.5 hours of passively watching, even Professor Tao, is quite an overpromise. I don't think there's a subject that requires more hands on practice and thinking than math, especially higher level math, so this is more along the lines of edutainment. So in my mind, how valuable this course is depends on what this content replaces for you. If watching this series replaces something distracting then its great, but if it replaces actually doing problems and working out proofs, then it's not worth it.
Finally there's a celebrity aspect to Masterclass that's a bit strange. Like these guys are famous, and because they're famous, they are the most worthy to teach you something.
Some series you should check out that are free and IMO provide much better value for time:
Academy of Achievement: https://achievement.org/ https://achievement.org/
* Some good lessons with Eric Lander, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Demis Hassabis
3B1B: https://www.3blue1brown.com/ https://www.3blue1brown.com/
Numberphile: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoxcjq-8xIDTYp3uz647V5A https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoxcjq-8xIDTYp3uz647V5A
- ramblerman 5y agoI fully agree on the celebrity worship, but am a bit confused with how you then align > Finally there's a celebrity aspect to Masterclass that's a bit strange. Like these guys are famous, and because they're famous, they are the most worthy to teach you something. with the recommendation > Academy of Achievement: https://achievement.org/ https://achievement.org/ * Some good lessons with Eric Lander, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Demis Hassabis
- imranq 5y agoYou're right, that is somewhat contradictory. On the other hand those interviews don't profess to teach you a skill, but more of an outlook on life that led to success.
- robertlagrant 5y agoAlso recommend Computerphile, inspired by Numberphile: https://www.youtube.com/user/Computerphile https://www.youtube.com/user/Computerphile
- supernova87a 5y agoThe 3B1B videos on 1) the Fourier transform, and 2) the determinant were eye-opening for me to understand what all the math actually meant physically, 20 years after learning about that stuff in a book. Sometimes it really does take explaining it from a different angle.
- aiilns 5y agoI've taken a course by Dr. Keith Devlin (professor at Standford) through coursera: _Introduction to Mathematical Thinking_, which I found quite interesting. However, I studied medicine, so perhaps it may be too basic for someone who has studied mathematics in university.
- lanstin 5y agoon the other hand, i took a general relativity class solely because Prof Penrose was teaching it, did none of the homeworks, and still walked away having learned a lot from the many comments Penrose made that conveyed a big picture understanding; an experience of illumination that so many maths classes fail to provide. and unlike the famous business people you cite, Prof Tao has done a lot of actual maths.