 | Concepts of Modern Mathematics by Ian Stewart
Buy new: $10.36 / Used from: $6.97 Covers so-called modern mathematics (math from the late 1800's on): groups, topology, number theory, etc. It's a great book; check out the reviews on Amazon. Although it's been in print for 30 years, it sells better than ever. The author's style reminds me of an ultra-talented classroom teacher.
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 | Foundations of Computer Science: C Edition (Principles of Computer Science Series) by Alfred V. Aho
Buy used from: $22.94 This 786-page, book covers a lot of ground. I use it to meet deadlines for the following reasons: 1. I can understand it when I'm tired, and 2. it's well organized, thus it's easy to look things up. By the way, the foundations of computer science are modern mathematics.
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 | Selected Writings on Computing: A Personal Perspective (Texts and Monographs in Computer Science) by Edsger W. Dijkstra
Buy used from: $14.99 Originally a theoretical physicist, Dijkstra took a interest in computer science, and became one of it's pioneers. He's been proven prophetic in that he warned--30 years ago--about the futility of eliminating software bugs by testing.
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 | A Beautiful Mind: The Life of Mathematical Genius and Nobel Laureate John Nash by Sylvia Nasar
Buy new: $10.88 / Used from: $0.01 I didn't learn much math from this book, but I sure learned a lot about mathematicians. Well written, and by someone who did their homework.
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 | The Ultimate Math Refresher for the GRE, GMAT, and SAT by Lighthouse Review
Buy new: $13.60 / Used from: $10.98 We need brilliant mathematicians like Edsger Dijkstra, and those described in A Beautiful Mind; but it's important to teach math to normal people. This book does that about as well as any. A lot of people buy this book.
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 | Calculus Made Easy by Silvanus P. Thompson
Buy new: $15.61 / Used from: $9.99 The best selling calculus book of all time despite never been used to teach a class (due partially to the author's slightly irreverent style--e.g. he prefers "little bit of" to to the counter-intuitive "element"). It was originally written in 1914, although periodically updated by Gardner. I read a book of lectures Thompson gave the British Royal Society in 1897--he liked to teach lay people.
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 | Differential Geometry: A Geometric Introduction by David W. Henderson
Buy used from: $36.40 The author recognizes that differential geometry is one of the most difficult subjects to grasp intuitively. And, to his credit, he goes to great lengths to supply that (missing) intuitive insight. Unfortunately, he lectures the reader, which keeps this from becoming a great book. (It has an excellent cover, though.)
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| The Collected Works of John von Neumann : 6-Volume Set by John Von Neumann
I was unaware of the brilliance (or eccentricity) of Mr. von Neuman until I read A Beautiful Mind. Then I couldn't help but notice the local university library has the complete set of his papers. Obviously, a luxury item to most people.
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