This. Flame that curiosity into an intense burning desire. It's worth at least a x10. Another order of magnitude comes from talking one-one with someone who is

This. Flame that curiosity into an intense burning desire. It's worth at least a x10. Another order of magnitude comes from talking one-one with someone who is living and breathing the work. I just don't get these "give me a list of books to read about mathematics" questions that pop up regularly on HN. Yes it's good to read & do your homework, but that shit is slooow. Even the professionals don't "read" mathematics, they talk to other mathematicians, and they work it out themselves. Understanding is not memorizing. I don't know what it is but it's not that.