Mathematical Apocrypha Redux: More Stories and Anecdotes of Mathematicians and the Mathematical

by Steven G. Krantz, Gerald L. Alexanderson (Editor)

A companion to Mathematical Apocrypha, this second volume of anecdotes, stories, quips, and ruminations about mathematics and mathematicians is sure to please. It differs from other books of its type in that many of the stories are from the twentieth century and many about currently living mathematicians. A number of the best stories come from the author's first-hand experience. The writing is lively, engaging, and informative. There are stories the reader may wish to share with students and colleagues, friends, and relatives. The purpose of the book is to explore and to celebrate the many facets of mathematical life. The stories reveal mathematicians as intense, human, and sympathetic. They should resonate with readers everywhere.

Genres: Mathematics

304 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2005

Reviews

[James Swenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun collection; the subtitle is a good description. It feels like the author, editor, or both were in too much of a hurry, though: some stories are repeated, in fact.

Krantz also has a predilection for the word "allowed," intended to mean "said," even in contexts where "admitted" would not be possible. These should not have been "allowed," and should not have been allowed.

[Rafaela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is less interesting and funny than the first book by Krantz, but I don't regret reading it because there doesn't seem to be many more books of this kind. Besides, I accept any crumbs of information that I can find about André Weil, so to me it was still worth it, even though the book bored me often. The pictures are worth it, too.

[Uvrón]

Note to myself: a stand-in for Moonlight Apocyrypha, the book dad's friend wrote with a story influenced by dad conversations.

[Fredrik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dette er altså nok en anekdotesamling fra matematikkverden. Mye morsomt her, og det er morsomt å bli kjent med kjente matematikere på en litt annen måte enn bare som navn på et teorem.

Første bok var derimot mye morsommere (antakelig fordi de beste anekdotene ble lagt der). Det som var morsomst her, var nok alle matematikkdiktene.