If you haven't read this book yet, it should be on your short list: A Mathematician's Apology, by G.H. Hardy.
G.H. Hardy was a mathematician at the University of Cambridge in England. He is best known for his recognition and fostering of the extraordinary talent of the Indian mathematical prodigy, Srinivasa Ramanujan. Ramanujan was one of the most gifted mathematicians in history, and of the English mathematicians Ramanujan tried to contact, only Hardy recognized his genius. Hardy called Ramanujan's work to the attention of other mathematicians, and the rest is history--history best introduced in A Mathematician's Apology!
The word "apology" originally meant a formal, rationally presented argument in favor or justification of a theory or doctrine. It is from the Latin word "apologia", which in turn is from Greek, "apologia" [apo + logos], and does not have the modern primary sense of to say "I'm sorry" or "mea culpa". For instance, Plato's Apologia was his account of Socrates' defense of his teachings and actions as a teacher in court.
A Mathematician's Apology is a small (the PDF file linked to below is only 56 pages), autobiographical book. It is a delightful expression of what it is to be a creative mathematician, and Hardy's insights and opinions on mathematics--and from there, the human condition--are fascinating and moving. Hardy was an eccentric in many ways, but he was a good man, consumed with a love of mathematics and cricket. The book is involving and touching, and endlessly fascinating. His account of his interactions with Littlewood, Ramanujan, and others are a window into the world of giants of mathematical and scientific legend.
A Mathematician's Apology is available online as a PDF file HERE, if one is in Canada; it is still under copyright here in the United States. It is in print and can easily be found in bookstores and in the local libraries. It is available on Amazon, and for the Kindle. I'd recommend the little old copies you can find in libraries with the introduction by C.P. Snow. Those old books are lovely, and Snow's commentary enhances the book. (To our Northern neighbors: In casually skimming the PDF file, I saw some typographic errors; it looks like they scanned the book, used scanning-to-text software, and saved it as a PDF file without serious proofreading; I'd say look for the book, because a PDF file is not as nice to read as the old book, and I find those kind of errors distracting.)
All too often, people in the humanities disdain mathematics and the sciences. We are usually ignorant and unappreciative of the math-based magisteria. This apologia is one of the great bridging documents. It is itself a work of narrative art that shows the working of the mind of a pure creative artist of the first calibre.
In math, rich brevity is elegance; in this foray into literary activity, Hardy exemplified the aesthetic of a world-class mathematician, while creating a classic of autobiographical writing.
P.S.: I found a nice article on this book HERE. It summarizes the book and the people presented in it elegantly.
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