101 Careers in Mathematics - Second Edition

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Summary: The full spectrum of careers in mathematics
Review: This is one of the few books that should be on the library shelves at all levels of education, from the middle school up through the bachelor's degree. A collection of short essays written by people who work in many different areas, it is a demonstration of the enormous number of ways math is used in the modern world. By reading this book, anyone contemplating a career in mathematics or one that uses mathematics can understand the value of taking mathematics courses.
The people interviewed includes math teachers at all levels, actuaries working for the insurance industry, people who work with computers, others who work in industry and some in the public sector. None of the jobs is the same as any of the others, even if their job descriptions are the same. From these essays, it is clear that no two math jobs are the same. The joy and excitement that these people have about their work also comes through very strongly, demonstrating that mathematics knowledge is a path to exciting and interesting work. Given the unsettled nature of employment at this time, it is comforting to anyone contemplating a career path when they hear that mathematics is a skill that is very transferable and one that employers desire.
There are so many myths that permeate the collective psyche of society. One of the most pervasive (and incorrect) is that there is no use for math outside of the classroom. That is wrong, and this book contains 101 existence proofs of the contrary.

Published in the recreational mathematics newsletter, reprinted with permission.