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About
"Winner of the 2012 Book Merit Award in the Professional, Reference category, New York Book Show" Donald J. Albers is senior acquisitions editor at the Mathematical Association of America. Gerald L. Alexanderson is the Michael and Elizabeth Valeriote Professor of Science at Santa Clara University. They are the editors of Mathematical People: Profiles and Interviews and More Mathematical People: Contemporary Conversations.
Top mathematicians talk about their work and lives
Fascinating Mathematical People is a collection of informal interviews and memoirs of sixteen prominent members of the mathematical community of the twentieth century, many still active. The candid portraits collected here demonstrate that while these men and women vary widely in terms of their backgrounds, life stories, and worldviews, they all share a deep and abiding sense of wonder about mathematics.
Featured here-in their own words-are major research mathematicians whose cutting-edge discoveries have advanced the frontiers of the field, such as Lars Ahlfors, Mary Cartwright, Dusa McDuff, and Atle Selberg. Others are leading mathematicians who have also been highly influential as teachers and mentors, like Tom Apostol and Jean Taylor. Fern Hunt describes what it was like to be among the first black women to earn a PhD in mathematics. Harold Bacon made trips to Alcatraz to help a prisoner learn calculus. Thomas Banchoff, who first became interested in the fourth dimension while reading a Captain Marvel comic, relates his fascinating friendship with Salvador Dalí and their shared passion for art, mathematics, and the profound connection between the two. Other mathematical people found here are Leon Bankoff, who was also a Beverly Hills dentist; Arthur Benjamin, a part-time professional magician; and Joseph Gallian, a legendary mentor of future mathematicians, but also a world-renowned expert on the Beatles.
This beautifully illustrated collection includes many photographs never before published, concise introductions by the editors to each person, and a foreword by Philip J. Davis. "What do a Beatles expert, a professional magician and a Los Angeles dentist have in common? If they're Joseph Gallian, Arthur Benjamin and Leon Bankoff, it's mathematics. The words of these and other researchers, mentors and teachers in the maths community feature in this compilation by educator Donald Albers and mathematician Gerald Alexanderson. There is much to relish in these accounts--not least geometer Thomas Banchoff's friendship with Salvador Dalí, who explored the nexus of atomic science, maths and art late in life." "Albers and Alexanderson pick up where they left off from their earlier books, Mathematical People and More Mathematical People, with profiles of 16 unique individuals involved in all areas of mathematics teaching and research. . . . A handy way to learn about contemporary mathematic ideas and interrelated areas of research, the book seems more like a dinner party filled with intriguing personalities than a textbook. . . . Strongly recommended for readers interested in mathematics and anyone wanting to understand the creative process."---Elizabeth Brown, Library Journal "A beautifully illustrated collection of interviews and biographical etudes of 16 mathematicians of different backgrounds, varied professional interests, diverse level of achievement--all incredibly interesting as human beings. . . . [A]n awfully good and entertaining read."---Alexander Bogomolny, CTK Insights "This book is an assortment of interviews and memoirs of 16 contemporary mathematicians with a variety of backgrounds. The volume includes some unique, never-published photographs of the mathematicians--at work and/or with their families--that add a nice personal touch. As this reviewer read about these individuals, she found herself wanting to know more about them, and even considering inviting one to be a guest speaker at a math club meeting. . . . [Fascinating Mathema
Top mathematicians talk about their work and lives
Fascinating Mathematical People is a collection of informal interviews and memoirs of sixteen prominent members of the mathematical community of the twentieth century, many still active. The candid portraits collected here demonstrate that while these men and women vary widely in terms of their backgrounds, life stories, and worldviews, they all share a deep and abiding sense of wonder about mathematics.
Featured here-in their own words-are major research mathematicians whose cutting-edge discoveries have advanced the frontiers of the field, such as Lars Ahlfors, Mary Cartwright, Dusa McDuff, and Atle Selberg. Others are leading mathematicians who have also been highly influential as teachers and mentors, like Tom Apostol and Jean Taylor. Fern Hunt describes what it was like to be among the first black women to earn a PhD in mathematics. Harold Bacon made trips to Alcatraz to help a prisoner learn calculus. Thomas Banchoff, who first became interested in the fourth dimension while reading a Captain Marvel comic, relates his fascinating friendship with Salvador Dalí and their shared passion for art, mathematics, and the profound connection between the two. Other mathematical people found here are Leon Bankoff, who was also a Beverly Hills dentist; Arthur Benjamin, a part-time professional magician; and Joseph Gallian, a legendary mentor of future mathematicians, but also a world-renowned expert on the Beatles.
This beautifully illustrated collection includes many photographs never before published, concise introductions by the editors to each person, and a foreword by Philip J. Davis. "What do a Beatles expert, a professional magician and a Los Angeles dentist have in common? If they're Joseph Gallian, Arthur Benjamin and Leon Bankoff, it's mathematics. The words of these and other researchers, mentors and teachers in the maths community feature in this compilation by educator Donald Albers and mathematician Gerald Alexanderson. There is much to relish in these accounts--not least geometer Thomas Banchoff's friendship with Salvador Dalí, who explored the nexus of atomic science, maths and art late in life." "Albers and Alexanderson pick up where they left off from their earlier books, Mathematical People and More Mathematical People, with profiles of 16 unique individuals involved in all areas of mathematics teaching and research. . . . A handy way to learn about contemporary mathematic ideas and interrelated areas of research, the book seems more like a dinner party filled with intriguing personalities than a textbook. . . . Strongly recommended for readers interested in mathematics and anyone wanting to understand the creative process."---Elizabeth Brown, Library Journal "A beautifully illustrated collection of interviews and biographical etudes of 16 mathematicians of different backgrounds, varied professional interests, diverse level of achievement--all incredibly interesting as human beings. . . . [A]n awfully good and entertaining read."---Alexander Bogomolny, CTK Insights "This book is an assortment of interviews and memoirs of 16 contemporary mathematicians with a variety of backgrounds. The volume includes some unique, never-published photographs of the mathematicians--at work and/or with their families--that add a nice personal touch. As this reviewer read about these individuals, she found herself wanting to know more about them, and even considering inviting one to be a guest speaker at a math club meeting. . . . [Fascinating Mathema