From the author of What School Could Be
and the producer of Most Likely To Succeed and Multiple Choice

aftermath

The Life-Changing Math
That Schools Won't Teach You

a new book by Ted Dintersmith
coming March 24, 2026
The Fast Company Press

"In the age of AI and data, we badly need to rethink the way we teach math in U.S. schools. Dintersmith has joyfully illustrated how we can pull the subject out of irrelevance in the eyes of our students — a must read for teachers and parents alike."

Steve Levitt, co-author

what they’re saying

  • "In energetic, no-frills prose, he brings to life the 'revealing math that profoundly affects you, your loved ones, and your fellow citizens,' demonstrating its power and utility in understanding the world in which we live. An illuminating book that makes complex math concepts approachable."

    Kirkus Reviews 

  • "Aftermath is a great demonstration of the power of math, nowhere near as irrelevant and boring as school would lead us to believe, and a wake-up call to modernize our education system."

    Gabriel Santos for Readers' Favorite

  • "Aftermath elevates our perspective on math – the ideas that matter and what’s at stake. It’s all about the math that shapes our economic and democratic aspirations, and bears on equitable access to opportunity. Without this understanding, we cannot get back to truth and trust"

    Carole Basile, Dean, Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching, Arizona State University

  • "Aftermath is an important and urgent call for equipping all Americans with essential math skills and mindsets. Nothing short of a revolution is needed to swap out obsolete rote procedures for math's life-defining ideas: the math behind the economy, civics, science, sports, personal finances, and life-and-death medical decisions.  Aftermath offers a blueprint for math that's revealing, relevant, and empowering."

    Ryan Craig, Managing Director of Achieve Partners. Author of Apprentice Nation, A New U, and College Disrupted.

  • "If you ever concluded you weren’t a 'math person' because of high school algebra — as I did — Aftermath is your vindication. Ted Dintersmith reveals that the problem wasn't you—it was a curriculum that prioritizes 'one-right-answer' procedures over critical thinking and creative problem-solving. By brilliantly explaining the Revealing Math that matters most—from spotting financial fraud to making life-and-death healthcare decisions—Dintersmith resuscitates our collective math curiosity and offers an essential framework for what math should be taught."

    Tony Wagner

  • "Ted Dintersmith’s Aftermath is a bold and timely call to rethink how we teach and learn mathematics. He challenges long-held assumptions and offers a compelling vision for a future where math education is relevant, empowering, and deeply human. This book will spark important conversations among educators, parents, and policymakers alike."

    James Lane, Former Superintendent of Public Instruction, Commonwealth of Virginia. CEO, University Instructors

about the book

Whether you loved or loathed high-school math, Aftermath will change how you think about math . . . and life. Forget rote math’s dry formulas and abstract symbols. This book illuminates the fascinating math ideas that are essential to you and your loved ones -- ideas totally ignored in school.

from the author

“For years, something about math has vexed me. Math bubbles with powerful, fascinating, life-changing ideas. Yet few adults understand these ideas, or even know about them. Our collective math ignorance isn’t for lack of effort. We spend years on math in school, churning away on rote mechanics that few adults use, and smartphones handle flawlessly. The aftermath? America’s math confusion is jeopardizing the futures of millions, undermining civil society.”

- TED DINTERSMITH