Math Mind

The Simple Path to Loving Math

By: Shalinee Sharma

Narrated by: Shalinee Sharma

Bust the math myths that are holding you and your kids back and learn the importance of numeracy with this one-of-a-kind resource for parents, educators, and policymakers

Shalinee Sharma is one of the world’s top experts on math learning, but when she was in school, she sat in the back row, unsure if she could ever master the subject. Many of us buy into the idea that some people are innately good at math and others just won’t ever succeed at it—but it’s not true, and numeracy is as important as literacy when it comes to opening doors in life.

Sharma shows how complex problem solving and puzzle solving, abstract and logical thinking, developing fluency with numbers, and cultivating persistence in math are crucial skills for success that can be taught to everyone and how math, far from being a dry, dull exercise, shares common ground with art and creativity. She also debunks the myths that prevent us from learning and enjoying math, with chapters dedicated to the three roadblocks that discourage adults and kids from learning.

With instructive line drawings throughout, Sharma explains the math instinct that all humans have from birth, and better, more intuitive ways to solve math problems that are both rigorous and accessible. For anyone who has ever thought you’re “bad at math” but wants to get good—for your children and for yourself—Math Mind contains the guidance, takeaways, and specific approaches you need to learn to love numbers.


* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF that contains select equations and other visuals from the book.

Critic reviews

“If I had a magic wand, I’d want every parent and math teacher in America to read this book. Shalinee Sharma proves that math can be creative, beautiful, wondrous and soothing, and it should be taught that way.” —Amanda Ripley, New York Times bestselling author, The Smartest Kids in the World

"In this timely and accessible book, Shalinee Sharma challenges not only the way we’ve been teaching math but also the way we’ve been conceptualizing it—as the province of a select few. She demonstrates that all kids can be 'math kids,' enjoying not only a greater chance of success in life but also an appreciation of the beauty of numbers."—Natalie Wexler, author of The Knowledge Gap

"This book should be read by every parent and educator — those who love math and, especially, those who think they do not." --Emily Oster, New York Times bestselling author, Cribsheet, and CEO & Founder of ParentData

“Whether you were a math kid or not, your own kid needs to be. What's more, whether you thought of yourself as a math kid or not, you were. Part manifesto, part reflection, part how-to guide---Math Mind will convince you that math is a language anyone can learn when properly taught, and a joy that's never too late or too early to discover.” –Angela Duckworth, New York Times bestselling author, Grit, and Professor, University of Pennsylvania

“This brilliant book opens the doors to the future of math education. It is hands down the most engaging and best-researched book on learning math I’ve ever encountered. Don't miss this masterpiece—the children in your life will thank you as they flourish.”--Barbara Oakley, PhD, author of the bestselling A Mind for Numbers and instructor of Coursera’s online course favorite Learning How to Learn

“Shalinee Sharma proves that math anxiety stems from how it is taught, not the difficulty of the subject. There is no math gene and anyone can develop a math mind. I will be using this book to teach my son how to solve math problems and to prove that systematic learning is creative and fun! If you love math, read this book! If you’re scared of math, definitely read this book!”—Kristy Shen, author of Quit Like a Millionaire

What a refreshing perspective.

This book helps to clear years of cobwebs and confusion and opens the door to real internal assessment. At the end I felt ready to start my path of understanding math not just getting the right answers. I highly recommend.

must read for math teachers

one of the best books for educators I have ever read. it's brilliant! Not only does it present data on the impact that learning math has on our children, but it also provides a clear path to achieving math learners, because everyone is a math person

Couldn’t stop listening

I listened to Shalinee read this book out loud every opportunity I could. In the car, working out, and making dinner were all activities I could do while she eloquently showed me ways in which I could parent my kids better in math.

I was a math kid and I’m worried that my kids are turning out not to be. Math Mind really challenged my thinking here and highlighted the ways in which our education system is pushing my daughter away from a subject that she initially showed interest and aptitude for. I need to be a counter weight to the pressures of doing multiplication problems faster and shouting out the correct answer. As a parent, I can show her how math surrounds us and point out its beauty and consistency by talking about how it all fits together and the why. I would do this instead of emphasizing just getting to the correct answer.

I’m so glad I picked this audiobook up as my oldest is entering middle school. It’s already changed how I’ve been talking to my kids about math. I’m looking forward to eliciting more “ah ha” moments from her as she learns how math just makes sense and isn’t a bunch of rules and tricks to just get good grades.

Every middle school parent/kid should read this!

Our education system is successful at reading because it assumes everyone is a reader.  Why not do the same for math? Math Mind shows why every kid can understand and excel at, even love, math. It flips the script from math = arbitrary rules + tricks to a  unified system based on conceptual understanding, creativity, and collaboration. It's empowering to think about math as something accessible for everyone, not just the lucky few who find it easy or had great teachers. Every parent and teacher should read it, and I just added it to my middle-schoolers' back-to-school reading list!