The content is excellent. Dr. Houston gives students insight into how mathematics is created and along the way introduces powerful problem solving and proof writing techniques. He also covers some basic mathematical terms and devices that every mathematician should know. Unfortunately, as another reviewer has pointed out, the book, at least the version that I received, began to fall apart physically--the pages separating from the binding on basically the very first use. This deterioration is all the more unfortunate since the book is one well worth returning to periodically.