G. H. Hardy (1877–1947) ranks among the great mathematicians of the twentieth century. He did essential research in number theory and analysis, held professorships at Cambridge and Oxford, wrote important textbooks as well as the classic A Mathematician's Apology, and famously collaborated with J. E. Littlewood and Srinivasa Ramanujan. Hardy was a colorful character with remarkable expository skills. This book is a feast of G. H. Hardy's writing. There are selections of his mathematical papers, his book reviews, his tributes to departed colleagues. Some articles are serious, whereas others display a wry sense of humor. And there are recollections by those who knew Hardy, along with biographical and mathematical pieces written explicitly for this collection. Fans of Hardy should find much here to like. And for those unfamiliar with his work, The G. H. Hardy Reader provides an introduction to this extraordinary individual.
- Introduces the extraordinary life of G. H. Hardy
- Provides samples of his essays, book reviews, and personal stories of his colleagues
- A treat for anyone from amateurs to serious mathematicians
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Reviews & endorsements
'The editors are to be congratulated on putting together this beautiful 'reader' with material from so many different sources, which illustrates so well the life, character and work of one of the great mathematicians of the twentieth century, Godfrey Harold Hardy (1877-1947). Even if you are familiar with Hardy's masterpiece A Mathematician's Apology or his book on Ramanujan, Ramanujan: Twelve Lectures on Subjects Suggested by His Life and Work you will find a wealth of new and fascinating material in this 'reader' about Hardy.' Kenneth S. Williams, Canadian Mathematical Society Notes

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Product details
- Date Published: April 2016
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9781107594647
- length: 410 pages
- copublisher: Mathematical Association of America
- dimensions: 228 x 153 x 23 mm
- weight: 0.58kg
- contains: 24 b/w illus.
- availability: In stock
Table of Contents
Part I. Biography:
1. Hardy's life
2. The letter from Ramanujan to Hardy, 16 January 1913
3. A letter from Bertrand Russell to Lady Ottoline Morrell, 2 February 1913
4. The Indian mathematician Ramanujan
5. Epilogue from the man who knew infinity
6. Posters of 'Hardy's years at Oxford'
7. A glimpse of J. E. Littlewood
8. A letter from Freeman Dyson to C. P. Snow, 22 May 1967, and two letters from Hardy to Dyson
9. Miss Gertrude Hardy
Part II. Writings by and about G. H. Hardy:
10. Hardy on writing books
11. Selections from Hardy's writings
12. Selections from what others have said about Hardy
Part III. Mathematics:
13. An introduction to the theory of numbers
14. Prime numbers
15. The theory of numbers
16. The Riemann zeta-function and lattice point problems
17. Four Hardy gems
18. What is geometry?
19. The case against the mathematical tripos
20. The mathematician on cricket
21. Cricket for the rest of us
22. A mathematical theorem about golf
23. Mathematics in war-time
24. Mathematics
25. Asymptotic formulæ in combinatory analysis (excerpts) with S. Ramanujan
26. A new solution of Waring's problem (excerpts), with J. E. Littlewood
27. Some notes on certain theorems in higher trigonometry
28. The Integral _∞0sin xx dx and further remarks on the integral _∞0sin xx dx
Part IV. Tributes:
29. Dr. Glaisher and the 'messenger of mathematics'
30. David Hilbert
31. Edmund Landau (with H. Heilbronn)
32. Gösta Mittag-Leffler
Part V. Book Reviews:
33. Osgood's calculus and Johnson's calculus
34. Hadamard: the psychology of invention in the mathematical field
35. Hulburt: differential and integral calculus
36. Bôcher: an introduction to the study of integral equations.
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Editors
Donald J. Albers, Dover Publications, California
Donald J. Albers served as Director of Publications and Associate Executive Director of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) from 1991–2006 and Editorial Director of MAA Books from 2006–12. He was Editor of The College Mathematics Journal and Founding Editor of Math Horizons. He has written or co-authored six books, including Mathematical People and Fascinating Mathematical People – both with G. L. Alexanderson. Prior to his association with the MAA, he was Professor of Mathematics and Special Assistant to the President of Menlo College.
Gerald L. Alexanderson, Santa Clara University, California
Gerald L. Alexanderson is the Valeriote Professor of Science at Santa Clara University, California, where he has taught mathematics since developing an interest in problems under the guidance of George Pólya and enthusiasm for analytic number theory from a course with Gábor Szegö at Stanford. Long active in the Mathematical Association of America he has served as Secretary and as President, as well as Editor of Mathematics Magazine. He is author of many articles and reviews, and has co-authored or co-edited textbooks, problem collections, books of interviews, as well as biographies and books on history.
William Dunham, Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania
William Dunham served as Koehler Professor of Mathematics at Muhlenberg College (emeritus, 2014) and taught mathematics history as a visiting professor at Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell University. In 2009, he was a visiting scholar at the University of Cambridge, and the following year he recorded the DVD course 'Great Thinkers, Great Theorems' for The Teaching Company. He is the author of four books: Journey through Genius (1990), The Mathematical Universe (1995), Euler: The Master of Us All (1999), and The Calculus Gallery (2005). Dunham is currently a Research Associate in Mathematics at Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania.