  "Is math useful?" might sound as a trick question. And it is. Of course math
is useful, we live in a data-filled world and every aspect of life is totally
entwined with math applications, both trivial and subtle applications, of both
basic and advanced math. But we need to ask once again that question, in order
to truly understand what is math useful for and what being useful means.
Moreover, is it knowledge of math useful for a class of specialists, or for
political leaders or for all people at large? Being more on a concrete level,
why does math need to have a central role in education?
  Each section will be titled by a question. And each section will not give an
answer, but -- at least I hope -- provide some food for tought to the reader,
in order to try to come up with his or her own answers.
  I feel that these kind of questions are at home in a book devoted to the
interplays between mathematics and culture: what is the space we should give to
math in culture and what is math's role in becoming a complete citizen?
