Leonhard Euler and the Bernoullis

by M.B.W. Tent

"Leonhard Euler and the Bernoullis is a fascinating tale of the Bernoulli family and Euler's association with them. Successful merchants in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Bernoullis were driven out of Antwerp during the persecution of the Huguenots and settled first in Frankfurt, and then in Basel, where one of the most remarkable mathematical dynasties evolved with Jacob, Johann, and Daniel Bernoulli the most prominent among them. Euler, fortunate to have had Johann Bernoulli as a tutor, quickly rose to prominence in the academies of Berlin and St. Petersburg, and became the most prolific and profound mathematician that ever lived.

The story of these remarkable men, their great ambitions and dedication to their science-often against parental authority-is skillfully told by the author. Refreshing fictional dialogue is interspersed throughout into an otherwise accurate historical scenario. The book is intended for the young adult audience of middle school and early high school ages, but surely will also appeal to a general audience, with or without mathematical background."

—Walter Gautschi, Purdue University

Genres: Biography, Mathematics, History

296 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fabulous. I'll be trying to find some more books from this author.

[Marios Gkionis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a nice depiction of the life of famous scientists in the (I think) 16th century.
It is short and nicely paced (except for the first 40-50 pages).
One can appreciate the beauty of mathematics and research at that time. What amazed me the most was Euler's life and his monsterous stoicism and dedication to mathematics.
I would definetely recommend it to anyone even slightly interested in science. It combines every-day historical facts, insights into the lives of "rockstar" mathematicians, mesmerizing but also humanizing them.