Ian Stewart has inspired generations of young minds to the pure magic of math ... math can give a glimpse of the sublime ... reality is by definition unknowable however math is the best tool mankind has yet created to engage directly with the structure of this unknowable fabric ... do not poo poo Dr Stewart until after you have read a few of this works and more importantly after thinking about and doing some maths especially at a level where you are totally frustrated yet soldier on for months or years until you achieve some results ... do not discount the sublime and remain in the mundane forever