Grabbing a mug of hot chocolate and watching a Tarantino film on Netflix one freezing winter night may make you happy, but this happiness style is not enough for many people. If you aren’t rich and crave to discover and invent new things constantly, this happiness will not hold you for long.
The most satisfying and enjoyable thing a person can do is better themselves; for this to happen, one must step out of their comfort zone and think about always learning new things. Also, one must not fall for the countless useless “self-help” books that float around on the internet. Your friends may criticize your want to learn a new instrument, a new language, a new sport, or even start a blacksmithing course as a “mid-life crisis.”
To better ourselves, we may need to step out of the pack mentality and think on our own, as what others deem the right road may not be the one that takes us forward.
One of the best ways to better oneself and learn new things is to surround yourself with people who are smarter and more experienced than you. That is why I have listed lessons from professors and legends of their fields who are obsessed with helping others better themselves. What sets the below instructors apart from their counterparts is their strive to better themselves and their lessons. There are professors who taught one class in 1990 and never bettered their content, even using the same presentation in 2022. The below professors are the opposite of this trope; they strive daily to better themselves and publish private lessons for all to view.
You can also gain life-changing knowledge from the professors below if you step out of your comfort zone and take the time to learn from them.
Lastly, I would like to note that if you search “mathematics” on Coursera, you get 1048 results with no particular order of importance or helpfulness. However, I will only share the courses I have taken and know are useful and would like you to benefit from as well.
This list is immensely important to those who want to better themselves, love mathematics, and even parents who homeschool their children. Furthermore, these lessons will be conversation starters for your friend groups.
Introduction to Mathematical Thinking by Dr. Keith Devlin — Stanford University
For a long while, I have preached the necessity for all to learn “mathematical thinking.” If someone possesses mathematical thinking, not only will they be able to quickly and effectively solve problems they face, but more importantly, they will be able to steer clear of illogical behaviors that annoy and irritate others.
Being obsessed with mathematics and having a vast understanding, Dr. Keith Devling wants to teach and show others how a mathematician thinks and processes life.
Mathematical thinking doesn’t simply cover mathematics, solving for x, finding the angles of a triangle, and other mathematical processes. Mathematical thinking is a vast field full of methods for solving daily problems, making those who possess it immensely valuable to humanity.
That is why anyone who wants to better themselves should learn this thought process.
Introduction to Logic by Michael Genesereth — Standford University
Holding mathematics and logic as separate spheres goes against logic itself. That is why learning logic holds just as much weight as learning mathematical thinking.
Introduction to Logic is a brilliant way to learn the fundamentals of logic. Although it teaches logic in a computational manner, it is still a wonderful tool for learning the basics of logic.
Game Theory by Matthew O. Jackson — Standford University
Game Theory gained popularity after the film “A Beautiful Mind.” In essence, game theory is an idea that entails beating a game while taking the least amount of damage possible and is often used in economics.
In a competitive field, the owner of an organization will want to maximize his gains. At this point, game theory takes over, and the owner will start anticipating the actions of his competitors and make the best decision for his organization with this in mind.
Since this course is at an introductory level, you do not encounter high-level mathematics very often, making it even more enjoyable and pleasing. Not only does it teach you how to be a better businessperson, but it also helps you anticipate what your competitors will do and take action accordingly.
Fibonacci Numbers and the Golden Ratio by Jeffrey R. Chasnov
When one mentions popular mathematics, the first thing that comes to mind is the Fibonacci Series and the Golden Ratio. Sadly, it is much too rare to learn about these brilliant occurrences in a regular mathematics curriculum, and that is why Professor Chesnov set out to fill a massive gap.
While the course starts relatively simple in the first week, it gets challenging quickly. However, the amount and quality of learning make up greatly for the effort you spend on the course.
This course also makes math make sense because seeing numbers and patterns arise in nature and almost pop out at you is increasingly mesmerizing. You can be certain to learn about interesting topics to talk to your friends about if you give the course the time and effort it deserves.
Mathematical Thinking in Computer Science by Alexander S. Kulikov — UC San Diego
Computing-related fields such as data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and computer graphics make up the most popular work opportunities in our present day. Every computing field is rooted in mathematics, giving it even more tremendous importance. Therefore it is no surprise that if you wish to better yourself in the field of computers, you must have a wonderful grasp of mathematical thinking.
In this course, Professor Kulikov aims to teach you various useful approaches and ideas using fun and interactive puzzles.
How Things Work: An Introduction to Physics by Louis A. Bloomfield — University of Virginia
Physics is the user manual of the universe. If you ever stop and think about it as a means of understanding the universe rather than a mandatory class you have to take, you can truly find happiness and serenity in it. The relationship between planets, the concept of time, and the buoyancy of water are just some of the endless must-learn subjects you will surely find mesmerizing.
A person who learns physics is a person who doesn’t settle for a saying but rather understands the world around them by asking questions and pondering the truths set out by others. These types of people are scarce but essential for the well-being of humanity. This class is, by definition of the term, mind-blowing, and it is truly a must for everyone. Better yet, Professor Bloomfield’s style of teaching is incredibly simple and easy to understand, making it immensely fun to listen to and understand his lecture. It is the right of everyone to understand the mechanisms at work all around us.
Introduction to Geometry by John Lee
The famous ancient greek thinkers spent their entire lives trying to understand the world around us. These thinkers needed something to grasp these things and used geometry as their tool of choice. Yes, mathematics and physics were later discovered to learn geometry better.
Thousands of years ago, the size of our world and other planets and the distances between them were discovered using a simple ruler and compass. The mind-blowing Pyramids, which we still awe at understanding the construction of, were designed and constructed using these simple tools.
That is why for many thinkers and scholars, geometry is the father of all sciences, and this course takes us through the journey of how geometry was born and came to be what it is today.
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