Ex-Prodigy: My Childhood and Youth
by Norbert Wiener
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These two volumes ( I Am Mathematician and Ex-Prodigy) comprise Norbert Wiener's autobiography. Sometimes with humor and sometimes with sadness, they render an account, without sentiment, of the life of the world-renowned mathematician and scientist. An unusual life story, Norbert Wiener's penetrating observations accompany the fascinating details describing the maturation of a major world scientist.Tags
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Ex-Prodigy is a well-written first half of an autobiography 0f a a Jewish mathematics prodigy in New England in the early 1900s. Wiener is a fine writer, and this is good writing. The Jewish aspect is not emphasized nor overlooked. His was a difficult childhood but seen in a thoroughly understanding way as to his parents, friends and associates, and the telling is free of complaints. The Wieners were lower middle-class citizens.
This is of special interest to mathematicians and those in related fields, but at least this first part of the autobiography is of general interest to anyone curious about that place and time. It is ever refreshing to hear from a clear thinker who does his own thinking.
The final book of Wiener's autobiography is show more "I Am a Mathematician". I look forward to reading it next. Both are free at archiv.org . show less
This is of special interest to mathematicians and those in related fields, but at least this first part of the autobiography is of general interest to anyone curious about that place and time. It is ever refreshing to hear from a clear thinker who does his own thinking.
The final book of Wiener's autobiography is show more "I Am a Mathematician". I look forward to reading it next. Both are free at archiv.org . show less
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32+ Works 2,571 Members
Norbert Wiener (1894-1964) served on the faculty in the Department of Mathematics at MIT from 1919 until his death. In 1963, he was awarded the National Medal of Science for his contributions to mathematics and the engineering and biological sciences. He was the author of many books, including Norbert Wiener-A Life in Cybernetics and the National show more Book Award-winning God Golem, Inc.: A Comment on Certain Points Where Cybernetics Impinges on Religion (both published by the MIT Press). show less
Series
Belongs to Publisher Series
MIT paperback series (19)
Work Relationships
Is contained in
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1953
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Statistics
- Members
- 96
- Popularity
- 336,207
- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (3.93)
- Languages
- English, Spanish
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 5
