Apology

A Mathematician's Apology is, as the title implies, written in the form of an "apology," or defense. In this case, the author sets out to defend his chosen career: namely, theoretical, or what he calls "pure," mathematics. Although he was generally accepted for his brilliant theoretical insights, which resulted in many remarkable works and collaborations, Hardy's view that theoretical mathematics is an art form, while its counterpart, applied mathematics, is at best an application of trivial exercises, caused great disagreement among his contemporaries and thus spurred the need for this defense.

Tone

With this book, Hardy set out to address a general audience of both mathematicians and nonmathematicians alike, and as a result he employs a narrative style that could best explain in simple terms his profound and complex array of ideas. To that end, his tone, while often conveying a derogatory and elitist attitude toward his subject...