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Loading... Théorème vivant (original 2012; edition 2012)by Cédric Villani
Work InformationBirth of a Theorem: A Mathematical Adventure by Cédric Villani (2012) Books Read in 2015 (1,080) Loading...
Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. Short and sweet. I would have liked there to be more technical stuff (or at least, some explanation of what the technical stuff was), but hey, what can you expect for a popular autobiography? I'd recommend it. ( ) The book gives a great feeling for the process of mathematics, and for the lifestyle of a mathematician. It is hard to give a sense of the actual mathematical research, but everything around that is conveyed well. For example, Villani gives a fantastic sense for developing the main theorem, sketched out in emails with his collaborator, as they write a LaTeX paper (by emailed drafts, without version control) and develop the proofs simultaneously. He conveys the ups and downs, the false breakthroughs, the mistakes as well as the actual breakthroughs. He also gets across the social life and itinerancy of a mathematician, traveling the world between institutes with few solid relationships outside his immediate family. It mixes in some history of mathematics (with brief portraits of famous mathematicians). It does not really attempt to convey any of the mathematics itself, except in a very sketchy, impressionistic way; this was fine for me. The writing is extremely overindulgent. I could do without reading his random dreams, or the stories he reads to his children, or the list of all his favorite songs on Spotify (with an explanation for why he likes each song, and the lyrics for some of them!). There is lots of filler! His language is often overly flowery; for example, he describes a math conference with, "Revelers swanning about from one event to the next in luxury limos and romantic rickshaws, everywhere celebrating the unity and diversity of mathematics, its ever-shifting shapes and forms; everywhere overcome with joy at what has so far been accomplished and wonder before all that yet remains to be discovered; everywhere, day and night, dreaming of the unknown." Perhaps this was his honest experience—who am I to say? He had just won the Fields Medal. But it rings false. Additionally, Villani has an incredible ego. He tries to disguise it to some extent, but it still comes through very strongly. He is obsessed, for example, with the Fields Medal, and is convinced that every other mathematician is equally obsessed. (In fact, I think he is in small minority.) I am not sure of his professional ethics—several times he announces a result without having a proof—but he is obviously brilliant. A strangely compelling account of a few years in the life of a celebrated french mathematician. There are many equations and descriptions of mathematical techniques that will baffle almost everyone who reads this book. Although I had no clue what he was writing about most of the time, Villani's passion for his chosen profession made me want to read through to the end. no reviews | add a review
"An intimate look inside a mathematician's mind as he wrestles with the theorem that will make his reputation Cédric Villani is a rock-star mathematician. An intellect of unusual depth and breadth, he is the director of France's greatest mathematics research institute. In 2010 he received the Fields Medal, the most coveted prize in mathematics, for his proofs resolving one of the most controversial theories of classical physics. Birth of a Theorem is his own account of the year leading up to the award. It invites readers inside the mind of a genius as he wrestles with the most important work of his career. But you don't have to understand nonlinear Landau damping to love Birth of a Theorem. It doesn't simplify or overexplain; rather, it invites readers into collaboration. Villani's diaries, e-mails, and musings enmesh you in the process of discovery. You join him in unproductive lulls and late-night breakthroughs. You're privy to the mess-hall conversations of the world's greatest research institutions. Villani discusses his favorite songs, his love of manga, and the imaginative stories he tells his children. Mathematics is like any other creative work in that the thinker's whole life propels discovery--and with Birth of a Theorem, Villani welcomes you into his"--
"An intimate look inside a mathematician's mind as he wrestles with the theorem that will make his reputation"-- No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)510.92Natural sciences and mathematics Mathematics General Mathematics Biography And History BiographyLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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