Random Curves: Journeys of a Mathematician by Neal Koblitz

by Neal Koblitz

These autobiographical memoirs of Neal Koblitz, coinventor of one of the two most popular forms of encryption and digital signature, cover many topics besides his own personal career in mathematics and cryptography - travels to the Soviet Union, Latin America, Vietnam and elsewhere, political activism, and academic controversies relating to math education, the C. P. Snow two-culture problem, and mistreatment of women in academia. The stories speak for themselves and reflect the experiences of a student and later a scientist caught up in the tumultuous events of his generation.

Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Thia Richey]

Koblitz is a great writer, and his life is incredibly interesting. He talks some about math and his contributions to cryptography, but it's mostly about his travels, the people he's met, and the movements he's been a part of, which I found refreshing. It also helped me reconcile my political ideals with my field of study, something I haven't always felt comfortable doing.

[Darrenglass]

Some people really dont need to write memoirs...

[Matteo]

i took some math classes from Prof. Koblitz at the University of Washington, and i suspect that he is politically minded. a book for another time...