Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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Professor Minhyong Kim (Director@ICMS-Edinburgh) shares his highly atypical journey into mathematics. Kim candidly reflects on dropping out of school after primary school, not getting into physics, quitting philosophy after three weeks, and why his honest answer to what attracted him to mathematics might be "maybe nothing" — he views it primarily as an essential tool to understand the world rather than a subject he was ever drawn to for its own sake.

He also touches on growing up with literature professors for parents who let him do whatever he wanted, his teenage ambitions to become a composer and then a singer, the fifteen popular books he has written, and his current project, A Mathematician Reads Philosophy. He offers a comforting perspective on dealing with poor concentration, drifting between interests, and why young people should remember that the world is ultimately a generous place.

Key Takeaways:
A Non-Linear Path:
You don't need a rigid, traditional trajectory or early mathematical talent to make a career in science.
Mathematics as a tool:
Math is an indispensable key to unlocking physics, economics, and understanding the universe around us. Compensating for Weaknesses:
If you lack intense single-focus concentration, returning to concepts repeatedly over many years can yield deep understanding.
The World is Generous:
Despite setbacks, career pressure, or slow starts, life offers many pathways to thrive.

00:00 - "Don't listen to anything I say": Advice from old people and memory stories.
00:58 - Leaving school after primary school and self-directed learning. 01:33 - Dreaming of being a composer/singer & lacking math discipline. 02:17 - Quitting philosophy after 3 weeks and retaking the Korean entrance exam.
03:00 - Choosing math over physics to understand the real world.
04:55 - Going below the surface: Why science eventually forces math on you.
06:22 - Drifting between fields and almost quitting math again.
06:50 - Popularizing math: Writing 15 books and reading philosophy as a mathematician.
07:33 - Lacking "superhuman" powers of concentration: Returning to concepts over time.
08:16 - Making a living as a mathematician: Holding professorships across 10 universities.
09:48 - Advice to young people: "The world is a pretty generous place, so it's okay to relax".

Minhyong Kim is a director and Edmund Whittaker professor at the International Centre for Mathematical Sciences in Edinburgh. He holds a PhD from Yale University. Prior he held positions on three continents.

#AbelPrize #MinhyongKim #Mathematics #CareerAdvice #Philosophy #STEM