Danica McKellar's Book "Math Doesn't Suck"

When have you heard of a Hollywood actress doing something for the minds of her fans? Think back, back...

I can't really think of anyone. Until now. Danica McKellar, actress and mathematician (summa cum laude from UCLA) is doing just that. She's written a book, "Math Doesn't Suck," which will be released on August 7, 2007. (Too late for my birthday - rats!)

The book appears to tackle touchy subjects - girls and math, young people and math, starlets, glamour anything that smacks of brains. I wish her luck!

In an interview with Tara C. Smith, the founder of Iowa Citizens for Science and a professor of epidemiology at the University of Iowa, McKellar said that she wrote the book "to show girls that math is accessible and relevant, and even a little glamorous" and to counteract "damaging social messages telling young girls that math and science aren't for them"[paraphrased from Wikipedia]

If you don't know Ms. McKellar, you should. She's probably best known for her role as Winnie (the girlfriend of Kevin, the star) in "The Wonder Years," (see the video, below).

She also starred recently in the TV show, "Inspector Mom." She's been in "The West Wing," "How I Met Your Mother," "Walker, Texas Ranger," "Babylon5," and "NCIS," as well as having done voices on video games, like "X-Men, Legends."

OK, but what is really cool is that she's authored a paper that proves a theorem in mathematical physics! Let's see you do that, Nicole Richie!

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OK, let's clear up a few things. I'm not particularly interested in "gender studies." I wish the human race had gotten our gender issues sorted out before the 21st century. It's embarrassing that there are still stereotypes about girls, boys and brains.

So someone is taking the myth of "girls-can't-do-math" head on. Bravo.

I know I can't do it. I don't have the insight, nor the desire. I don't care about the women-and-math thing that much, myself. But I do like the Idea of a woman being able to bash any idiot who would limit her being a fully enfranchised person.

What I do care about is Ideas. And empowering any human to care about Ideas is a good thing. And math is a world full of Ideas.

"Math Doesn't Suck" doesn't quite address the world of Ideas as I see them, but, heck, I didn't write it, so it doesn't have to. I think Ms. McKellar has addressed the world of math as she sees it quite well.

Now more the point - The main reason I got fascinated with this book is because of the title. I have been writing for years, and the working title of one of my main books has been "Why You Suck at Math." (No, I don't think you suck at math - the book will explain what I mean, but you'll have to wait awhile for it.)

So naturally, when a book with a title like "Math Doesn't Suck" comes out, I have to investigate.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was written by a woman, and I was even more surprised that it was written by an actress.

Let me say right now, that although I have seen "The Wonder Years," I was never actually a fan. It ran while I was living overseas, so I never even got to see it in English when it was popular. I've seen a couple of re-runs, and thought they were OK.

So I've never exactly been a fan of Danica McKellar, the actress. Never knew much about her. To tell you the truth, after watching a few YouTube clips of "Inspector Mom," I don't think I'm going to be a big fan. But she's serious and she's successful, and I admire that.

At the time I heard about the book, I also found out about Squidoo, and I wanted to experiment. So this became my first lens, and I got hooked on Squidoo, so it looks like this book is stuck with this lens.

And of course, I'm really glad about the book. It provides a much needed service.

I wrote this e-book because I was disgusted with the way we are normally taught how to multiply. This booklet will open your eyes to a new world. You will learn a method to teach any child basic multiplication of single-digit numbers (what we normally call "the times tables" or "multiplication facts") in about two minutes.

The booklet then goes on to show how to "lock this knowledge in."
It also comes with seven e-mail lessons that will show you the math behind the method, so you can actually understand and show your child why it works!

And here's the big news: I've just added over a dozen videos to help you super-charge your learning and practicing. They are easy to follow and fun. I "hold your hand" as you practice, until you can do over thirty multiplications in a minute.

I truly believe that every parent and teacher should know what is taught in this booklet, so every child can have a meaningful, helpful method for dealing with this important subject.

You can order "Numbers Juggling - (Times without the Tables)" here.

Look, "Math Doesn't Suck" teaches math in a great way. The message about popularity and femininity is not my cup of meat, though.

Buy the premiss, buy the plot, I say. If you have a "normal" daugher, who is concerned with those things, get this book!

On the other hand, if your daughter is already mature and intelligent, the whole "make-up-and-boys" thing may turn her off, in a big way. And I do mean very mature and intelligent. So if your girl is a geek, don't waste your time with this book.

If your daughter is pretty anti-social (may be a sign of intelligence, may not be), you may want to give this book a miss, too. If you give this book to a Goth girl, you probably will deserve the disrespect she gives you.

Here's a except from a comment I added to a post at the Aetiology blog:

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This is without a doubt the most important post on any site about McKellar's book so far. Thanks for opening it up.

I am an advocate for the book, but with serious qualifications. Your post, and the comments of your readers, addresses many of the issues I'm concerned with.

As a middle-aged white man, (and a cranky one at that) I'd like to come down on this book for the obvious reasons. But I am hoping it will be a gateway for girls who suffer from mathophobia to becoming more intelligent and confident. Intelligence and confidence are two things that will then become their own gateway away from consumerism and superficiality.

Many teens eventually grow out of those demons, and ability with math and critical-thinking skills can only speed up the process, no? The obsession with "femininity" and "popularity" are stages. They will eventually subside in healthy women, whereas the obsession with improving your mind only grows.

Ms. McKellar seems to be planting some decent seeds for growth.

________________

For the entire discussion at that post, see the Aetiology blog.

'Nuff said.

Bravo! You guys are doing a great job. I see articles and posts for the book all over the web.
I just got my copy in the mail this morning, and it is excellent!

Good work!