There are numerous articles and videos available for readers, on "Best mathematics books for self study" or "Books for math lovers" topic.  While some readers would like to learn more about the topic, others would like to refresh their memories. A search engine like Google or Bing can help one find a math book that suits their needs. 

Similarly when I was a student, I used to search on the internet for the best math books. But most of the time I found it's actually hard to choose books. While reading those books, I found some of them enjoyable and easy to follow while others are a bit harder but greatly beneficial for making clear concepts. I also discovered that some books are very expensive and are only available in the United States... 

Sometimes before buying a book I felt very interested on that but when I start reading I lost interest. These were the problems I faced. And somehow because of these problems I loose interest on mathematics, unless I watch a video on YouTube, titled - Learn Mathematics from START to FINISH

I had already read some of those recommended books. And some extra also. 

So, here I'm going to write about the best 7 mathematics books you should read if you love math or simply if you want to learn the subject from start to finish. And these books are the best math books or at least highly recommended for high school or university students.

10 Best Books For Math Lovers To Improve Their Skills By Self Study

1. Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea by Charles Seife

Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea by Charles Seife
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"The Babylonians invented it, the Greeks banned it, the Hindus worshipped it, and the Church used it to fend off heretics. For centuries, the power of zero savored of the demonic; once harnessed, it became the most important tool in mathematics..."

  • Total Pages - 256
  • Estimated Time To read - 20 Days

The good thing about this book is that it starts with a few historical facts and gains momentum gradually. Seife explains how understanding concepts of zero can be useful in understanding both the tiny quantum world as well as the world of vast cosmological events.

Reading doesn't require pencil and paper; you can just practice in your head. Plus, Seife's writing is easy to read. There may be times you'll laugh out loud as you read.

2. Applied Combinatorics By Alan Tucker

Applied Combinatorics By Alan Tucker
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  • Total Pages - 496
  • Estimated Time To Read - 2 to 4 Months

If you love Combinatorics and Graph Theory, you will surely love this book. Some parts of well written while some are not. The book contains a lot of example. But in my opinion, the section on non-homogeneous recurrence relations are very unclear and the examples do not illustrate the concept very well. Still it's quite good for math lovers. 

You can read it online for free here - Applied Combinatorics (6th Edition) by Alan Tucker 2012

3. Things to Make and Do in the Fourth Dimension By Matt Parker

Things to Make and Do in the Fourth Dimension By Matt Parker
Image Source: amazon

  • Total Pages - 480
  • Estimated Time To Read - 2 Months 

The author Matt Parker is a mathematician and a stand-up comedian. Rather than convince you that math is useful, he wants to convince you that it is fun.  

4. A Graphical Approach To Trigonometry By E. John Hornsby

A Graphical Approach To Trigonometry By E. John Hornsby
Image source: amazon
"This book provides a lot of information, and I love that there is an example problem for each concept. Also, I appreciate that it gives me an idea of what I'll need for Calculus as well. But sometimes the authors make assumptions about prior knowledge and skips some steps, making it hard to follow along," said a reader (from goodreads).

  • Total Pages - 917
  • Estimated Time To Read - 2 to 4 Months

5. The Princeton Companion to Mathematics By June Barrow-Green, Timothy Gowers And Imre Leader

  • Total Pages - 1057
  • Estimated Time To Read - 10 to 14 Months

  • In a clear, accessible style, this 'encyclopedia-like' book presents the major concepts and branches of pure mathematics. 
  • Describes and explains key mathematical concepts, methods, theorems, and open problems. 
  • Outlines the aims of mathematical research. 
  • This book also covers number theory, algebra, analysis, geometry, logic, probability, and more. (From goodreads review)
The Princeton Companion to Mathematics
Image source: amazon 

It is considered the best math books since it is helpful for both mathematicians and non-mathematicians who want to learn the fundamental concepts of maths.

6. Calculus Volume 1, 2 & 3 By OpenStax

Image source: openstax
  • Total Pages - 875 + 829 + 1023
  • Estimated Time To Read - 6 to 10 Months
Probably the best book (total 3 volume) I have ever read on Calculus. 

You can download the pdf versions for free from the official website of openstax.

7. Mathematics, Its Content, Methods, and Meaning

  • Total Pages - 1120
  • Estimated Time To Read - 2 to 4 Months

If you’ve just left high school and you’re still figuring out what you want to do with your life, this might be the perfect book for you. It's about learning the basics of mathematics, but it's more than just a collection of equations. 

It starts at about high school level and goes upwards. Less proofs and exercises are provided to make the book easier to read. 

Conclusion:

By reading these books, you'll be able to develop a better understanding of math and how it applies in real life. 

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