I was like that as a child, but after enough years of wider academic exposure as a student, decided I liked applying mathematical ability towards electronics, b

I was like that as a child, but after enough years of wider academic exposure as a student, decided I liked applying mathematical ability towards electronics, business, and chemicals better than average compared to becoming a real mathematician. Science-fiction can be stimulating in that regard, someone who likes science in addition to math might be the one to turn some of it into science-reality someday :) Eventually I came to the conclusion that the better math textbooks had more than just math. One of the most enlightening math books I had was a late 19th century antique text "Progressive Higher Arithmetic" which was never in one of my courses, but was given to me when I was an old teenager and it could be an interesting reference in any century. Not only the differences in the way teaching has been done in the past, but a nice leather-bound volume with numerous blank pages among those adjacent to the front & back covers, covered with poetry written by the original owner. With a pen and common inkwell, in beautiful handwriting there is one that I can not forget: Remember me when death shall close My eyelids in the last repose And evening breezes gently wave The grass above your school-mates grave.