I know mathematicians; mathematicians are friends of mine; and Jonah, I am not a mathematician.

I have to explain this every time I talk about my math books. I love math, but it’s an unrequited love: math doesn’t love me back. I mean, I am not actually much good at it. I realized this about halfway through my university career, and very sensibly went and did other things with my life. If I could have been an actual working mathematician, I surely would have been–what glory! I couldn’t, though. Gnothi seauton.

American English has the useful, if not very savory, expression “jock sniffer.” That is a person who is crazy about some sport, but no good at actually playing it. (An example of a jock sniffer would be Richard Nixon.) That’s how I am with math. Sort of a pocket-protector sniffer.