I've read this book. It's definitely one of the more interesting and readable maths texts out there. I wasn't exactly sure I'd use the methods. Working as a mechanical engineer I probably go straight to numerical methods, or approximate things even more crudely and approximately than a mathematician's 'rough' work. Though "replace a complicated function with a rectangle" definitely resonated. Overall the impression was that it was full of great techniques for mathematicians and scientists puzzling out every bit of meaning they can from a situation whose true features aren't yet known.
This is a good book. Also, any time this kind of book becomes available (be it a 100 year old one or a new one), it is worth looking into - great improvements in isnight and simplicity are possible above the "baseline" of US math education today.<p>So for example, I posit that the engineers or scientists you might admire from the 1950's didn't learn calculus or linear algebra the way you did.
I also quite liked <a href="https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/res-6-011-the-art-of-insight-in-science-and-engineering-mastering-complexity-fall-2014/pages/online-textbook/" rel="nofollow">https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/res-6-011-the-art-of-insight-in-...</a><p>Which is, I think, the successor and quite useful.
Book PDF is here: <a href="https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph-pdf/2284035/book_9780262265881.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://direct.mit.edu/books/oa-monograph-pdf/2284035/book_9...</a>
what is it about?<p>how to distribute fighters so that your team defeats-in-detail your opponents?