Russian math education operates on the "Moscow Method": theory is presented minimally, followed immediately by a cascade of problems that increase in difficulty exponentially. There is no hand-holding. If you pick up a Russian problem book, you will not find multiple-choice questions. Instead, you will find proofs, counter-examples, and generalization challenges.
Israel Gelfand is a titan of 20th-century mathematics. He organized correspondence schools for high school students, and the resulting textbooks (like Algebra , Functions and Graphs , and The Method of Coordinates ) are masterpieces. They are written for a younger audience but possess a depth that challenges undergraduate university students. They are often the first stop in the "Russian Math" journey. russian mathematics books in english pdf
Russian mathematics books in English PDF form are a and a frustrating maze for the casual learner . They will make you a stronger mathematician – but only if you use them as a supplement to, not a replacement for, modern pedagogy. Russian math education operates on the "Moscow Method":