I've just started reading Paul Nahin's "Dr. Euler's Fabulous Formula: Cures Many Mathematical Ills." I haven't read his well-received predecessor to this book, "An Imaginary Tale: The Story of "i"," but it's definitely on my list.

So far, I have not been impressed by Dr. Euler's.... I know it's an entirely crass and superficial thing to lead with, but I was immediately put off by his photograph on the dust jacket. The beard. The casual posture. The ice cream. I felt like I've known too many math types like this: incredible snobs with a practiced air of earthiness about them.

The text itself hasn't, thus far, elevated my opinion of Dr. Nahin. He starts early on by trashing the art of Jackson Pollack. Now, I'm no big fan of Pollack myself, but I certainly wouldn't publicly proclaim that his work is devoid of artistry or talent, as Nahin does.

I haven't gotten very far, but so far I've found the math itself to be only mildly interesting -- and difficult. It's clear that Dr. Nahin is twice the mathematician that I am, and this doesn't bother me. I do feel a little chagrined at having some difficulty following the math, when he asserts in the introduction that anyone with some calculus background, and certainly someone possessing an undergraduate degree in math, can follow the math.

But I was never a particularly good mathematician, so no surprises here.

I'll update this once I finish this tome, obviously.