Customer Reviews:
 It interested everyone around me! February 17, 2000
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
As I read this book, I noticed family members gathering around me to ask me what it was about - at every chapter! I believe that their interest in the book confirms the reason for which it was written: to address the negative attitudes associated with math in America and to determine the points of origin for them. Although I was an engineering major in college for two years before switching majors, I too could relate to the book. I became disenchanted with math during those courses but was extremely fond of it before college. This book motivated me to "revisit" the past and come to terms with it. More importantly, as a mother and a teacher-to-be, I learned NOT to pass on "myths of innate inferiority" to my child or to my future students. While Zaslavsky may not delve into ways to teach math in interesting, applicable, non-humiliating ways, she does address examples of how this may be accomplished. For the scope of the book, it's enough. I feel that her purpose was to enlighten readers while reigniting an interest in learning math - a tall order, and noble at that! After reading Fear of Math, readers may turn to other books for more ideas. A few choices to consider are Gary Tsuruda's Putting It Together and Marilyn Burns' Math for Smarty Pants. Thanks to Zaslavsky, Tsuruda, and Burns, my former love for math has been rejuvenated. Regardless of your math history, this book is well worth reading - either to understand why others believe they have difficulty with math or to discover for yourself why you've developed ill feelings and why it's critical not to pass these on to others. If you are a parent, an aspiring teacher, or a practicing teacher, this is a book that you must find time to read.
 Not helpful March 21, 2008
Madison Taylor (Odessa, Tx)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I bought this book because I have horrible math anxiety. I can't seem to pass my college algebra class! Anyway, this book is more like a pat on the back and a "you can do it" more than actually helping you. All througout the book the author talks about how women and minorities are mathematically supressed, and have been taught that only white males can be good at math. -Huh?- This book is just filled with a bunch of statistics and examples on how women and minorities can be good at math too... and that's it. I got really tired of reading this stuff over and over again, so I would skip a chapter ahead and she would STILL be talking about how it's a common misconception that only white men are good at math. Skipped another chapter - more statistics on how women and minorities are just as capable....blah blah blah.
So let me save you four hours and $20.00: Math really isn't that hard, its just all in your head. Women and minorities are not dumber than white males. (insert 521 statistics that back up this statement)People have different ways of learning, and american schools do not accomodate to that. The end.
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