I had read a biography of humboldt but knew next to nothing about Gauss. It was interesting, sometimes comical and sometimes insightful ( )

Two self-absorbed men set out on individual scientific quests, one mathematical and one botanical/cartographical. They both accomplish scientific things, are rude and selfish as often as possible, and are always tedious. In fact, they come off as completely flat, unreal characters, a feeling that is heightened by the author's blunt and choppy writing style and the almost complete lack of dialog throughout the book.

The inability of Humboldt and Gauss to understand the people around them - and their complete interest in trying - made me completely uninterested in finding out what happens to them. Book tossed aside in supreme irritation. ( )

12/4/22

The depth, breadth, and humor of this factually-based adventure story, encompassing the lives of two brilliant scientists, Carl Gauss and Alexander von Humboldt, is incredible for such a short volume. Shamefully, I had never heard of either man, nor of Humboldt's faithful and droll explorer companion, Bonpland. The narrative of Humboldt's adventures, with its untold miseries and dangers, and of Gauss' seemingly effortless mathematical mastery, are told as if Candide were the storyteller, dry and factual, yet reciting the most ridiculous incidents with incredible wit. Humboldt's travels down the Orinoco and in South America are astounding, as are the encounters with and references to such figures as Aguirre and Goethe and an entire academy of famous historical and scientific notables, as he makes his appearances, Zelig-like. A most singular novel and a complete joy.

Quotes: "It was a real example of the pitiful arbitrariness of existence, that you were born into a particular time and held prisoner there whether you wanted it or not. It gave you an indecent advantage over the past and made you a clown vis-a-vis the future." ( )

Really this book should have received a better rating but I wasn't at my best when reading and it became rather disjointed. This is basically the story of two men in the late 18th Century. Alexander von Humboldt left Germany with his assistant Bonplant to discover everything about the world that he could - the depth of rivers and caves, the core of volcanoes, etc. He survived harrowing situations always sending notes back to his brother who stayed in Germany. The other fellow, Carl Frederick Gauss, was a mathematician who basically didn't like people, wasn't interested in them, and was extremely eccentric. His son, Eugen, received the worst of his cricitisms.

The two men meet in Berlin and appreciate each other's works, but have different approaches to life. ( )