Ex-Prodigy: My Childhood And Youth

by Norbert Wiener

Autobiography of Norbert Wiener's Childhood and Youth

Genres: Biography, Science, Autobiography, Education, History, Mathematics, Nonfiction

309 pages, Paperback

First published August 15, 1964

About the author

Norbert Wiener was an American mathematician and philosopher. He was Professor of Mathematics at MIT. Wiener is considered the father of cybernetics, a formalization of the notion of feedback, with implications for engineering, systems control, computer science, biology, philosophy, and the organization of society.

Reviews

[Archy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note to self: think twice before reading autobiography of a non-writer

[J. Boo]

Autobiography of Norbert Wiener. Also (per wikipedia) includes some information about prodigy flame-out William Sidis, who was a classmate of Wiener's at Harvard (Sidis started taking courses at Harvard at age 9, and was giving lectures at age 10.)

[Paulo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wiener provides an account of his eventful life, with emphasis on his intellectual development and career. Unfortunately he doesn't give much attention to the subjects of his work and its ramifications or to giftedness—the very topics I was expecting to find.

I was interested in Wiener's thoughts on how cybernetics would impact the future as well as his general worldview, but he barely mentions these subjects. The long lists of topics on which he and his fellow mathematicians and logicians worked are rather dry and sometimes boring.

He gives some insights on gifted education and giftedness in general. While his insights are valuable and his life experiences relevant and interesting, I wish he had offered more thoughts on the subject.

One topic I didn't expect to find was his takes on academic life. He studied with first-rate academics in several institutions in three countries, and his travails make for interesting reading.

Overall the book was a worthwhile read, but a bit disappointing.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 "I Am a Mathematician". I look forward to reading it next. Both are free at archiv.org .

[Anthony Faber · Rating 5 out of 5]

enjoyed this for a lot of reasons. Part early 20th century mathematics history/gossip/name-dropping of famous math guys, part memoir of a REALLY uncoordinated person (really bad vision "helped", too) part fish out of water story, since he was in his early teens at Harvard. part dealing with the anti-semitism of the era, plus more.

[Luka Kawashima]

Far too many irrelevant passages, I thought

[Hassaan Naeem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read. Solid account of Wiener's early years and all those whom he came into contact with.

[Eva 'Nomad' · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Аз бях вундеркинд” е автобиография на американския математик от еврейски произход Норберт Винер, описваща детството му на свръх-надарено дете и първите години на кариерата му. Винер e легендарна фигура в МИТ и е смятан за баща на кибернетиката. Категорично не бих я препоръчала на всеки, но за правилната аудитория книгата може да е изумителна. Най-малкото, да надникнеш през очите на вундеркинда, който израства до стеснителен младеж, заплашен от посредствена кариера, да прочетеш за търсенията и грешките на едно голямо име може да те поучи, че във всеки възход има и моменти на падение, съмнение и тежка душевна борба.

Ревю: http://nomadbynature.net/2013/01/%D0%...

[Alena Gilevskaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good and honest story about Wiener childhood.