Random books from appleby's library
Algorithms in Algebraic Geometry and Applications (Progress in Mathematics) by Laureano Gonzalez-Vega
Laughing Gas by P. G. Wodehouse
Introduction to the Theory of Categories and Functions (Pure & Applied Mathematics Monograph) by I. Bucur
From Kant to Hilbert Volume 2 by William Bragg Ewald
Representation Theory of Artin Algebras (Cambridge Studies in Advanced Mathematics) by Maurice Auslander
Theory of Lie Groups by Claude Chevalley
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About meI am a mathematician at an undergraduate institution in the Silicon Valley, but an expat from the midwest. Twenty years ago or so, I might have chosen a different career path, and tried to work in physics or the history of science. My reading is frequent, broad, and not monogamous (I keep six books by the bed, and hop around), so I finish works slowly, at times. My interests are in mathematics (algebraic combinatorics, categorical logic) and physics (quantum theory, geometric quantization), as well as history (British, early Christian/pagan, history of science), technical works in sustainability, and a taste in fiction that I find difficult to describe. I have too many books. I have too few books.
About my libraryI am, I expect, about two-thirds through my catalog, though the bulk of what remains to put on LT are technical works. Authors whose works are represented multiply include Richard Powers, Jacques Barzun, P.G. Wodehouse, Stanislaw Lem, Tom Stoppard, and George Meredith. I would include also Thurber, O. Henry, Shakespeare, and G.B. Shaw, and several poets, but they appear in my library as collected works.
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Currently readingThe Four Adventures of Richard Hannay: The Thirty-Nine Steps/Greenmantle/Mr. Standfast/the Three Hostages by John Buchan
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thanks for your note. again, i just noticed it. these days, i generally just read what i feel like, but i have some specific goals as well, generally related to math, c.s, and history. but there's so much to read. i'm generally in the middle of several books at once. right now, those include "the great escape" by kati marton, "the rest is noise" by alex ross, and believe it or not, i'm reviewing an old (and easy) book by hartshorne on projective geometry, which i think is now out of print (although available used on amazon). there are a few very nice popular math books that have come out recently that i want to work through also, including "indra's pearls's" by mumford (who once taught me an undergrad course on non-euclidean geometries), "dr. euler's fabulous formula" by paul nahin, and "fearless symmetry" by ash & gross. how about you?
peter
posted by peterdmark at 12:40 am (EST) on Mar 18, 2009
thanks for your note. i haven't been checking LT much lately, so my apologies for my delayed reply. where do you teach? what is "algebraic combinatorics" vs. just plain old "combinatorics"?
thanks,
peter
posted by peterdmark at 9:00 pm (EST) on Mar 9, 2009
I agree that recommendations can be a minefield. Here are three which are (in their different ways) have a beautiful style. (Not the only criteria for a good book of course!)
In return for your American suggestion, how about a very British writer in return? Iain Sinclair writes about London life in a wonderfully rich style, perhaps one might compare him with Pynchon. The first book of his that I read is Radon Daughters, which I see did make it across the pond. Some people prefer Downriver - but probably his most popular book was London Orbital, a work of non-fiction, which is based on a circumnagivation of the M25 motorway that encircles London. All of them are full of striking language and imagery.
Similarly stylish, but in a very different manner, is Schooling by Heather McGowan. Set in a British girls' boarding school (but written by an American) the writing is superb.
To finish off, Never Let Me Go by Ishiguro. All of his books are written in a particular tone (which varies from book to book), but here is probably the most successful combination of style and story.
posted by anthos at 2:10 pm (EST) on Mar 1, 2009
posted by EdwardEinhorn at 11:04 am (EST) on Feb 20, 2009
But I am trying to find time to read with my writing/theater projects: a festival in May, a sequel to Improbable Story, and a new translation of Iphigenia in Aulis, among some other stuff.
posted by EdwardEinhorn at 1:19 am (EST) on Feb 16, 2009