Robert Kanigel

Born in 1887, S. Ramanujan grew up in a small town in Southern India, his intellectual powers undiscovered due in part to a highly rigid educational structure. He persisted in the attempt to pursue his passion for mathematics, writing to various famous scholars in England. Eventually, he was noticed and invited to Trinity College by British professor G.H. Hardy. On one hand, it proved a fruitful collaboration between a man of intuition and one dedicated to the formality of proof, which advanced the field of mathematics. On the other hand, it proved disastrous in that Ramanujan’s cultural, religious, and emotional well-being atrophied, leading to a severe decline in his health. Overall, I liked this biography. It brought to my attention a genius who overcame significant barriers to become one of the most renowned mathematical scholars. I had a few issues with the book, including repetition and unnecessary levels of detail on matters not critical to the story. In addition, I thought some of the concepts covered in the book may be inaccessible to a person not well-versed in advanced mathematics. Recommended to those interested in the history of mathematics and biographies of geniuses.… (meer)

A deeply researched biography of Milman Parry, the classics scholar who proved that these poems, like other ancient epics from around the world, came from an oral tradition. They were composed—but not written and the results were handed down through the generations. Such poets and singers were not praised for originality but for their ability to tell these stirring stories in ways that were familiar and always delivered within certain metrical constraints and patterns. This is a fascinating book which will leave you musing about traditions, culture, and what else you may have learned that needs a fresh examination.… (meer)