Not very specific, but he says:

"In my parents' house, there were a lot of books: all the great authors of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, translated foreign authors. I spent my youth, and still today I spend most of my time, reading literary works, and particularly those of French literature."

He totally learned Abstract Algebra from Dumas.

The Three Musketeers -- Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D'Artagnan

If this doesn't make you think about math, nothing will.

Thanks, this made made laugh :-)

Thanks, this made me re-read parent more carefully, which then made me laugh :)