Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating!
Review: If you love Math, or you know someone who does; or if you are fascinated by those with exceptional abilities, you will enjoy this book. The book is a combination of biographical sketches of math olympiads, insights into their problem solving abilities, theories on genius, cultural differences, teaching methods... It is a potpourri of intellectual and educational insights. My family may not want to read it simply because I've already told them almost everything in it!
Rating:
Summary: Honoring achievement
Review: Imagine a world where talent is honored, nurtured and rewarded. Imagine further that this world is populated by attractive, intelligent high school students who confidently pursue their goal to be the best in the world at what they do.While it sounds like a great premise for a novel, Steve Olson's book, Countdown, is actually the non-fiction story of six high school students who are competing in the Forty-second International Mathematical Olympiad. What sets this book apart is the reverence and respect that Mr. Olson brings to the story of the six teens who were chosen from an applicant pool of nearly a half million candidates. In evocative language usually reserved for sports heroes, Mr. Olson tells the story of the Olympiad and at the same time shatters nearly every math-geek stereotype that currently prevails in today's popular culture. Former Olympiad team member, Melanie Wood, is described as "an attractive, green-eyed, vivacious blond college student." On an appearance on Good Morning America Oaz Nir, "with his casual good looks and easygoing nature," is selected to answer a question that he is hearing for the first time on live television. The question: "How can you use a nineteen-degree angle to construct a one-degree angle?" No plot spoilers here, you'll have to read the book to find out the outcome. Mr. Olson also touches on a range of philosophical issues and, in general, rejects explanations of the students' success that are based on determinism, genetics or racial background. Instead, he emphasizes that the success of all the students is a result of a keen intellectual curiosity, a playful and creative approach to problem-solving and a devotion to hard work. The solution to the six math problems that made up the Forty-second Mathematical Olympiad are presented in the book's appendix. The source material that Mr. Olson used is summarized and offers a fascinating trove of additional material that readers might want to explore. Countdown: Six Kids Vie for Glory at the World's Toughest Math Competition is an inspirational story of achievement. That the story is told by someone who clearly admires the accomplishments of these students makes the book a remarkable achievement in itself.
Rating:
Summary: Much More than a 'Math Book'
Review: Steve Olson was a National Book Award finalist for his previous book, "Mapping Human History," which examined what discoveries in genetics and related fields are teaching us about the course of human migration around the world. That book was about much more than migration, however; what made it so interesting was how it prodded us to rethink our notions of racial, religious, national and other differences. It showed how, in general, these differences are simultaneously more trivial and more complex than many of us imagined. Now, in "Count Down," Olson turns his attention to mathematics. Yet, as before, his book is much more than it seems -- in this case, much more than a "math book." Once again, Olson examines far broader questions, such as the nature of creativity and genius. He builds his narrative around several teenagers in a single mathematics competition, but that is largely a device to look beyond equations and algorithms to deeper matters about what makes us human. I thought this was a splendid book -- readable, provocative, even heart-warming. I'm already looking forward to seeing what topic Olson decides to tackle next.
Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful and insightful glimpse of math and so much more
Review: This beautifully written narrative goes well beyond its ostensible topic -- the little known world of middle school math competitions and some of the people who inhabit that world. In addition to painting vivid portraits of six students who perform extraordinarily well in this highly competitive realm (while remaining remarkably well rounded), author Steve Olson reminds us of the sheer beauty and elegance of mathematics. For those who enjoy mathematics, Olson does an exceptional job of explaining competition math problems and solutions, while providing insights into why each is particularly challenging. And for those who are intrigued by wider and more abstract issues, Olson uses the details of each student's life to pose and probe intriguing social and cognitive questions, such as the nature of creativity and of genius, the pros and cons of competition, and the possible role of gender and ethnicity in influencing how kids approach and solve mathematical problems under pressure. All in all, it is a wonderfully insightful and thoughtful book.
Rating:
Summary: Thoughtful and insightful glimpse of math and so much more
Review: This beautifully written narrative goes well beyond its ostensible topic -- the little known world of middle school math competitions and some of the people who inhabit that world. In addition to painting vivid portraits of six students who perform extraordinarily well in this highly competitive realm (while remaining remarkably well rounded), author Steve Olson reminds us of the sheer beauty and elegance of mathematics. For those who enjoy mathematics, Olson does an exceptional job of explaining competition math problems and solutions, while providing insights into why each is particularly challenging. And for those who are intrigued by wider and more abstract issues, Olson uses the details of each student's life to pose and probe intriguing social and cognitive questions, such as the nature of creativity and of genius, the pros and cons of competition, and the possible role of gender and ethnicity in influencing how kids approach and solve mathematical problems under pressure. All in all, it is a wonderfully insightful and thoughtful book.
Rating:
Summary: Applaudable Book
Review: This book is an exceptional book. Being a serious follower of solving Maths Olympiad Problems since my college, I compare it with two of my batchmates who had won gold and silver medal respectively in the IMO in 1991. The book is a superb journey into the competition the 6 kids who have vied for Glory. The book has different angles to it. It gives information on the Maths Olympiad (for parents who have dreams of sending their kids to attaining glory), it tells about team work, problem solving skills, the fundamental change we need in our american math curricula. Congrats Steve on a job well-done. If there would be more than 5 stars I would have gladly given that for this book.
Rating:
Summary: Applaudable Book
Review: This book is an exceptional book. Being a serious follower of solving Maths Olympiad Problems since my college, I compare it with two of my batchmates who had won gold and silver medal respectively in the IMO in 1991. The book is a superb journey into the competition the 6 kids who have vied for Glory. The book has different angles to it. It gives information on the Maths Olympiad (for parents who have dreams of sending their kids to attaining glory), it tells about team work, problem solving skills, the fundamental change we need in our american math curricula. Congrats Steve on a job well-done. If there would be more than 5 stars I would have gladly given that for this book.
Rating: 
Summary: A glimpse into the lives of very bright students
Review: This is an interesting read, in that unlike typical pop-mathematics books, the focus isn't on one particular person or problem. The book describes 6 US students' different perceptions on each of the 6 Math Olympiad problems at the 42nd annual meeting.
Each student is introduced to the reader, then a brief (page or so) biography is given about each and the road that he or she took to get to the Olympiad. The book does not contain a lot of mathematical problems, however all 6 Olympiad problems are listed along with the solution and method a student used for a particular problem.
I recommend this book to 2 people: those who feel math is an inborn natured characteristic (i.e. you can only be good at math if you are born that way, and you will be refuted), and those interested in learning about various methods of problem solving not traditionally taught in most schools.
Rating:
Summary: Long due
Review: When I first entered the International Math Olympiad, "the World's Toughtest Math Competition" in 1999, I wondered why aren't there more exposure to this great competition. It has its share of classical element and drama -- contestants from more than 80 countries matching wits (actually, mathematical problem solving skills) with each other, a long and proud tradition, global standard, and the lovely "genius factor". Within the competition, the standard of "genius" is shot through the roof; the hometown math wizard would be as common as the guy next door. In the age where people crave for the over-the-edge competitiveness (cue Spellbound documentary and Word Freak), this is an untap reservoir. Olympiad competitions, especially the Math Olympiad, are the pinnacle of common-knowledge, skill-centered academic competitiveness. Read this if you want to peek into the world of the real math kids, as opposed to those 1000s of kids on the street whose moms brag about being "a math whiz".
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