Mathematical Apocrypha: Stories and Anecdotes of Mathematicians and the Mathematical

by Steven G. Krantz

This book contains a collection of tales about mathematicians and the mathematical, derived from the author's experience. It shares with the reader the nature of the mathematical enterprise, and gives a glimpse of mathematical culture. The book brings legendary names to life, and shares little known stories about names we have heard all our lives. The book is written in a brisk and engaging manner and it also includes a number of attractive photographs and illustrations.

Genres: Mathematics, Nonfiction

226 pages, Paperback

First published July 15, 2002

Reviews

[Nick Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect little collection of anecdotes and tellings. Many I'd come across before; even more were new to me. Every mathematician ought have a copy.

[Fredrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Underholdende! Festtrivia for enhver matematiker!

[Natta Kuiski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I identify with this on a spiritual level:

"Norbert Wiener's (1894-1964) father was a distinguished linguist. Wiener followed in his father's footsteps, to the extent of learning many languages. He was particularly proud of his ability with Chinese.

Wiener was once invited to lecture in China. He wanted to begin his first lecture with a little Chinese, so he spoke some words. The Chinese listened very politely. It was later observed that what Wiener actually said was 'The cow is green.'

One day Norbert Wiener, the harmonic analyst, and Andre Weil (1906-1998), the algebraic geometer, S. S. Chern (1911- ), the Chinese geometer, and some others were riding in an elevator at MIT. Weil also knew some Chinese, and he knew that Wiener did too. So Wiener and Weil jabbered away in Chinese during the rather long elevator ride. After they got off, Chern turned to a graduate student and said, 'Can you please tell me what language they were speaking?'"

I also like the one where he shows up to a dinner that was thrown in his honor and announced he was going to sit at the table and just eat some peanuts he brought with him. Thankfully, I can't identify so much with this one.

Approximately half of this book is about Wiener, and this has convinced me I need to read an entire book just about him. It seems like he was the absent-minded professor par excellence.

[Rafaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of book I wish I had someone to discuss it with (it made me wish I had a mathematician boyfriend or something lol). It's full of funny, interesting and/or absurd anecdotes of mathematicians that one could use to appear more interesting and knowledgeable at parties (if I had parties to go to, I mean). I hope the sequel is just as good.

[Hunan Rostomyan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of funny anecdotes. Contains offensive material, so suspend sensitivity while reading.

[Vasil Kolev · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun. Also has a few prank ideas that I'd really like to try...

[Avis Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is quite a lot of fun. Some samples: The professor who was drawing a line on a blackboard, who kept going to a window and then fell out, chalk and all.

The student who protested to Einstein that all the questions on Einstein's exam were the same as last year, only to be told, "But the answers are different this year."

The slovenly mathematician who annoyed his wife when he didn't wear a tie to a dinner party. The mathematician mailed a tie to his hosts and told them to stare at it for three hours.

There are a great many splendid ancedotes in this book, and it will keep any lover of eccentric people happy for a while.

Available at Open Library:
https://openlibrary.org/works/OL19316...