Take a photo of a barcode or cover
92 reviews for:
The Man Who Loved Only Numbers: The Story of Paul Erdos and the Search for Mathematical Truth
Paul Hoffman
4.21 AVERAGE
92 reviews for:
The Man Who Loved Only Numbers: The Story of Paul Erdos and the Search for Mathematical Truth
Paul Hoffman
4.21 AVERAGE
A fantastic read about a really fascinating person and lots of interesting math problems made accessible to non-mathematicians.
Paul Hoffman strikes the perfect balance between math and biography, technicality and heart-felt sentiments for a life worthy of remembering. I'm a little surprised I had never heard of Paul Erdos before having this book recommended to me, but I'm kind of glad I hadn't. It let me experience the world of math through his eyes and the eyes of those who knew him, without a single shred of foreknowledge. I let Hoffman carry me through the life and math (though I'd argue they are hardly separable) of Erdos one fascinating chapter at a time, with the sense of slowly coming to know a stranger and gaining a world of respect and admiration for him along the way.
Having much of the story told through the perspectives of those whose lives and careers Erdos came to touch in his decades of academic nomadery added to its depth, and certainly to its meaning. He had an impact on many, many people, and the joy of discovery that he shared with each of them comes across infectiously throughout the book. What an absolute inspiration to scientists, creators, and curious minds everywhere. The world was lucky to have had him walk it, and I am lucky to have been introduced to what little of him I could ever hope to know, through this book.
Having much of the story told through the perspectives of those whose lives and careers Erdos came to touch in his decades of academic nomadery added to its depth, and certainly to its meaning. He had an impact on many, many people, and the joy of discovery that he shared with each of them comes across infectiously throughout the book. What an absolute inspiration to scientists, creators, and curious minds everywhere. The world was lucky to have had him walk it, and I am lucky to have been introduced to what little of him I could ever hope to know, through this book.
Reads, amusingly, like it was written by someone with untreated ADHD. I find that amusing because he clearly is prejudicial about ADHD medication despite the facts he relays which support the value of medication as a treatment. I'm also amused since Erdos himself admonished him on his first article for similar reasons. Though in reality, the tangents, particularly chapters where Erdos is barely mentioned, are more likely due to needing material to flush out the story from a novella to a book.
Oh, and I have the proof for the Monty Hall Problem that's straight from The Book, though I'm sure it's well known (I'm not the first).
Oh, and I have the proof for the Monty Hall Problem that's straight from The Book, though I'm sure it's well known (I'm not the first).
Very good biography of a very interesting man. If you're not math-savvy, you're going to have issues getting through some of the heavy mathematics sections. But if you're OK with that, you'll enjoy this book.
adventurous
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Took me inside the mind of a fellow mathematician. Solid writing style, and gave a good summary of semi-recent math history.
I wish we got to see more of Erdös, though.
I wish we got to see more of Erdös, though.
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced