Bridging the Gap: How to make Math Digestible for English Majors

Class Dismissed

Learning math can be challenging for people who prefer the liberal arts. This is due to the differences in cognitive processes and subject matter. While liberal arts subjects like literature and history often focus on narrative, interpretation, and subjective analysis, math relies on abstract reasoning, logic, and problem-solving, which can feel rigid and detached from personal expression.

The linear and structured nature of math can seem intimidating compared to the open-ended exploration found in the humanities.

Our guest in Episode 271 of Class Dismissed is Ben Orlin. Orlin, the author of the hit book “Math with Bad Drawings” and his latest book, “Math for English Majors,” Has taken on the mission to bridge the gap between liberal arts thinkers and mathematical concepts.

Orlin says many of his readers asked if his teachings in class were similar to those in his early books, and the answer was mostly no.

“Math takes practice, and there is the pencil and paper math that needs to happen. But there’s so many ways that can go wrong, and I’ve seen so many students that have had such frustrating experiences,” says Orlin. “I was sort of drawn to that. This is the thing that’s haunting people…so I wanted to write a book that kind of went right at that.”

Orlin’s new writings, which frame math as a language, are a testament to this mission.

Listen to Episode 271 on your favorite podcast app or Apple Podcast for our full interview with Orlin.

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