Mathematicians: An Outer View of the Inner World - Softcover

Mariana Cook

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1470448386 ISBN 13: 9781470448387

Publisher: American Mathematical Society, 2018

Synopsis

Mathematicians is a remarkable collection of ninety-two photographic portraits, featuring a selection of the most impressive mathematicians of our time. Acclaimed photographer Mariana Cook captures the exuberance and passion of these brilliant thinkers. The superb images are accompanied by autobiographical texts written by each mathematician. Together, the photographs and words illuminate a diverse group of men and women dedicated to the absorbing pursuit of mathematics. The compelling black-and-white portraits introduce readers to mathematicians who are both young and old and from notably diverse backgrounds. They include Fields Medal winners, those at the beginning of major careers, and those who are long-established celebrities in the discipline. Their candid personal essays reveal unique and wide-ranging thoughts, opinions, and humor. The mathematicians discuss how they became interested in mathematics, why they love the subject, how they remain motivated in the face of mathematical challenges, and how their greatest contributions have paved new directions for future generations. Mathematicians in the book include Jean-Pierre Serre, Henri Cartan, Karen Uhlenbeck, David Blackwell, Eli Stein, John Conway, Timothy Gowers, Frances Kirwan, Peter Lax, William Massey, John Milnor, Cathleen Morawetz, John Nash, Pierre Deligne, and James Simons. This book conveys the beauty and joy of mathematics to readers outside the field as well as those in it. These pictures and their texts are an inspiration, and a perfect gift for those who love mathematics as well as for those who think they can't do it!

About this title

Review

"Mathematicians, An Outer View of the Inner World," is an irresistible book. It consists of ninety-two positively stunning portraits by Mariana Cook (evidently the last pupil (or protégé) of Ansel Adams) accompanied by brief introspective essays by her subjects on the facing pages...The choice of subjects is outstanding; almost everyone in the mathematical world has met or corresponded with at least some of these representative scholars, and many among the latter are household words. So it is that the personal reflections accompanying the marvelous photographic portraits more often than not come across as chats with friends...This is much more than a coffee-table book. --Michael Berg, MAA Review

Edition details

• Publisher: American Mathematical Society
• Publication date: 2018
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1470448386
• ISBN 13: 9781470448387
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 199