About my new book: Mathematics for Human Flourishing

Happy New Year! I know it's been a while since I've posted anything, but I have some big news: I have a book coming out next week! My book is titled Mathematics for Human Flourishing. If you liked my speech by the same name that was posted on this blog, or my essay The Lesson …

Mathematics for Human Flourishing

Why does the practice of mathematics often fall short of our ideals and hopes?  How can the deeply human themes that drive us to do mathematics be channeled to build a more beautiful and just world in which all can truly flourish?  I gave this Retiring Presidential Address at the AMS-MAA Joint Winter Meetings on January …

Race, Space, and the Conflict Inside Us

Author's note: this piece first appeared in the Oct/Nov 2016 issue of MAA FOCUS.  When I wrote it, I didn't know who would win the presidential election.  As the subject may be timely for many of us who teach, I'm making it available in a more shareable form here. Talking about race is hard. Our nation …

Freedom through Inquiry

I delivered this speech at the Inquiry-Based Learning Forum & 19th Annual Legacy of R.L. Moore Conference on August 4, 2016.  It is partly an homage to an influential teacher, partly an excuse to articulate what makes some styles of teaching so effective, and partly an excuse to talk about difficult issues facing our nation and …

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Yes, I've started a new blog.  The platform here at WordPress seems to be nicer and more versatile.  I'll be blogging here from now on. However, my first blog post was at Blogger, because that platform was easy and I was a blogging novice. "The Lesson of Grace in Teaching" http://mathyawp.blogspot.com/2013/01/the-lesson-of-grace-in-teaching.html The piece went viral, …