Studying Flourishing and Non-Flourishing in Mathematics A Review of Francis Su’s Mathematics for Human Flourishing with reflections by Christopher Jackson

Abstract

Su is a Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College and the past president of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). This book grew out of a speech he gave at the end of his term as the president of the MAA in January 2017. He writes from his perspective as a mathematics enthusiast, teacher, researcher, and learner. He explains that, despite his degrees (e.g., Ph.D. Mathematics) and positions, his pursuits of math included several obstacles and experiences of non-flourishing. These obstacles began in his early years, as he grew up in a small rural area town in south Texas with limited resources, and repeatedly cropped up, such as the time a professor in graduate school told him that he did not have what it takes to be a successful mathematician. These obstacles absolutely shape the book’s message and highlight how even those that are labelled as successful in mathematics have stories of both flourishing and non-flourishing.