Today, the American Mathematical Society (AMS) and MIT Press announce a partnership for a new book series called POLYMATH, which will present readers with rich, accessible, and irresistible mathematics books for a general audience.
“With POLYMATH, we are creating a home for books that combine intellectual rigor with playful thinking,” said Amy Brand, Director and Publisher of the MIT Press. “We are delighted to partner with the American Mathematical Society for this series and bring together two organizations committed to expanding the reach of strong mathematical ideas.”
AMS’s Chief Publishing Officer, Robert Harington, is POLYMATH’s series editor. “This new series of books is an exciting collaborative venture between the American Mathematical Society and MIT Press,” said Harington. “Mathematics is intriguing, engaging and relevant to all our lives. Our collaborative approach to POLYMATH is a wonderful example of telling math stories, showing how mathematicians think and why math is indeed fun for all of us and not something to be scared of.”
The MIT Press’s Whitney Rauenhorst will be the acquiring editor for the series. “With this partnership with AMS, I’m excited to work with mathematicians and bring curious readers delicious books that connect them with rich, accessible ideas,” Rauenhorst said.
The MIT Press will publish three to four books annually in the POLYMATH series, highlighting and bringing together great mathematicians and ideas through fun, relatable concepts.
The first book in the series will be Double-Take: A Field Guide to Optical Illusions, Magic, and Movie Tricks Arising from Perspective Geometry by acclaimed mathematician Annalisa Crannell, publishing in fall 2027. In her Double-Take, Crannell investigates how artists, magicians, and Hollywood cinematographers exploit the geometry of perspective to baffle, tease, and hoodwink the viewer.
About the MIT Press Established in 1962, the MIT Press’s mission is to lead by pushing the boundaries of scholarly publishing in active partnership with the MIT community and aligned with MIT’s mission to advance knowledge in science, technology, the arts, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the twenty-first century.
Contact Rachel Aldrich | Marketing Manager, the MIT Press
About the American Mathematical Society The American Mathematical Society is dedicated to advancing research and connecting the diverse global mathematical community through our publications, meetings and conferences, MathSciNet, professional services, advocacy, and awareness programs.
Contact Chalonda James, Director, AMS Communications & Marketing
Member News Release submitted by American Mathematical Society on 06/04/2026.
