Strogatz has written a series of such pieces for the NYT. He's very good. The series is at http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/category/steven-strogatz/ http:

Strogatz has written a series of such pieces for the NYT. He's very good. The series is at http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/category/steven-strogatz/ http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/category/steven-strogat... and one nice piece from it is http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/square-dancing/ http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/14/square-danci... Revised to add: there is at least one subsequent series as well, at http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/category/me-myself-and-math/ http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/category/me-myself-and-...