Count Down: Six Kids Vie for Glory at the World's Toughest Math Competition

While it sounds like a great premise for a novel, Steve Olson's book, Countdown, is actually the non-fiction story of six high school students who are competing in the Forty-second International Mathematical Olympiad. What sets this book apart is the reverence and respect that Mr. Olson brings to the story of the six teens who were chosen from an applicant pool of nearly a half million candidates.

In evocative language usually reserved for sports heroes, Mr. Olson tells the story of the Olympiad and at the same time shatters nearly every math-geek stereotype that currently prevails in today's popular culture. Former Olympiad team member, Melanie Wood, is described as "an attractive, green-eyed, vivacious blond college student." On an appearance on Good Morning America Oaz Nir, "with his casual good looks and easygoing nature," is selected to answer a question that he is hearing for the first time on live television. The question: "How can you use a nineteen-degree angle to construct a one-degree angle?" No plot spoilers here, you'll have to read the book to find out the outcome.

Mr. Olson also touches on a range of philosophical issues and, in general, rejects explanations of the students' success that are based on determinism, genetics or racial background. Instead, he emphasizes that the success of all the students is a result of a keen intellectual curiosity, a playful and creative approach to problem-solving and a devotion to hard work.

The solution to the six math problems that made up the Forty-second Mathematical Olympiad are presented in the book's appendix. The source material that Mr. Olson used is summarized and offers a fascinating trove of additional material that readers might want to explore.

Countdown: Six Kids Vie for Glory at the World's Toughest Math Competition is an inspirational story of achievement. That the story is told by someone who clearly admires the accomplishments of these students makes the book a remarkable achievement in itself.


Long due   April 2, 2004
bal gombak (Cambridge, MA USA)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

When I first entered the International Math Olympiad, "the World's Toughtest Math Competition" in 1999, I wondered why aren't there more exposure to this great competition. It has its share of classical element and drama -- contestants from more than 80 countries matching wits (actually, mathematical problem solving skills) with each other, a long and proud tradition, global standard, and the lovely "genius factor". Within the competition, the standard of "genius" is shot through the roof; the hometown math wizard would be as common as the guy next door. In the age where people crave for the over-the-edge competitiveness (cue Spellbound documentary and Word Freak), this is an untap reservoir. Olympiad competitions, especially the Math Olympiad, are the pinnacle of common-knowledge, skill-centered academic competitiveness.

Read this if you want to peek into the world of the real math kids, as opposed to those 1000s of kids on the street whose moms brag about being "a math whiz".


Much More than a 'Math Book'   May 27, 2004
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Steve Olson was a National Book Award finalist for his previous book, "Mapping Human History," which examined what discoveries in genetics and related fields are teaching us about the course of human migration around the world. That book was about much more than migration, however; what made it so interesting was how it prodded us to rethink our notions of racial, religious, national and other differences. It showed how, in general, these differences are simultaneously more trivial and more complex than many of us imagined.

Now, in "Count Down," Olson turns his attention to mathematics. Yet, as before, his book is much more than it seems -- in this case, much more than a "math book." Once again, Olson examines far broader questions, such as the nature of creativity and genius. He builds his narrative around several teenagers in a single mathematics competition, but that is largely a device to look beyond equations and algorithms to deeper matters about what makes us human.

I thought this was a splendid book -- readable, provocative, even heart-warming. I'm already looking forward to seeing what topic Olson decides to tackle next.


Applaudable Book   April 15, 2004
N. Vaidyanathan (Hartford, CT)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

This book is an exceptional book. Being a serious follower of solving Maths Olympiad Problems since my college, I compare it with two of my batchmates who had won gold and silver medal respectively in the IMO in 1991. The book is a superb journey into the competition the 6 kids who have vied for Glory. The book has different angles to it. It gives information on the Maths Olympiad (for parents who have dreams of sending their kids to attaining glory), it tells about team work, problem solving skills, the fundamental change we need in our american math curricula. Congrats Steve on a job well-done. If there would be more than 5 stars I would have gladly given that for this book.


Fascinating!   March 27, 2004
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

If you love Math, or you know someone who does; or if you are fascinated by those with exceptional abilities, you will enjoy this book. The book is a combination of biographical sketches of math olympiads, insights into their problem solving abilities, theories on genius, cultural differences, teaching methods... It is a potpourri of intellectual and educational insights. My family may not want to read it simply because I've already told them almost everything in it!