It is now out of copyright in UK and is downloadable from various internet web sites.

It remains one of the most popular books on pure mathematics.

The book was intended to help reform mathematics teaching in the UK, and more specifically in the University of Cambridge and in schools preparing to study higher mathematics.

It was aimed directly at "scholarship level" students – the top 10% to 20% by ability.

Hardy himself did not originally find a passion for mathematics, only seeing it as a way to beat other students, which he did decisively, and gain scholarships.