After more than 50 years, Polya's advice on tackling problems is still worth reading. But be warned, this is not the latest, brightest, trendiest, best-selling "problem solving book" out there that target MBAs or a kind of personal self-development book. Its author had contributed to important fields of mathematics and he had been through many problems, many difficulties, many students and many different questions by those students.

If you're a young but eager student who faces problems in math (or in natural sciences), a person trying to solve some puzzles or practical problems, or a researcher about to start a long and unguaranteed journey in order to solve a big problem then you owe yourself to have this classic on your bookshelf, or better on your table.

I'd like to quote some important passages from the book but last time I checked my notes they are about as long as the book. So maybe it is better to let Polya do the talking...