Siobhan Roberts - Genius at Play : The Curious Mind of John Horton Conway read book TXT, MOBI, PDF
9781620405932 English 1620405938 "Conway is a creative genius." --Martin Gardner Born in Liverpool in 1937, John Horton Conway found fame as a Cambridge professor, making a pivotal contribution to the field of mathematical symmetry and inventing "surreal numbers." A beloved teacher at Princeton University since 1987, he deploys cards, dice, coat hangers, and sometimes a Slinky as props to explain the beauties of mathematics. His myriad contributions to game theory, knot theory, number theory, coding theory, group theory, and geometry are legendary. Conway is most celebrated for his 1970s cult classic "Game of Life." One of the first cellular automata, the game plays out on a grid and is governed by three simple rules whereby proliferating cells resemble skittering microorganisms viewed under a microscope. More than just a cool fad, Life had broad cultural and scientific influence, showing how simplicity generates emergent complexity and providing an analogy not only for all mathematics but for the universe itself. Science and mathematics writer Siobhan Roberts has had close access to Conway at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, to his colleagues, and to his family over several years. As a result, "Genius At Play" presents a unique and intimate portrait of the mind and work of perhaps the world's most acclaimed mathematician. Anyone interested in mathematics, in game playing, indeed, in genius itself, will find it unforgettable., "Conway is a creative genius." Martin Gardner Born in Liverpool in 1937, John Horton Conway found fame as a Cambridge professor, making a pivotal contribution to the field of mathematical symmetry and inventing "surreal numbers." A beloved teacher at Princeton University since 1987, he deploys cards, dice, coat hangers, and sometimes a Slinky as props to explain the beauties of mathematics. His myriad contributions to game theory, knot theory, number theory, coding theory, group theory, and geometry are legendary. Conway is most celebrated for his 1970s cult classic "Game of Life." One of the first cellular automata, the game plays out on a grid and is governed by three simple rules whereby proliferating cells resemble skittering microorganisms viewed under a microscope. More than just a cool fad, Life had broad cultural and scientific influence, showing how simplicity generates emergent complexity and providing an analogy not only for all mathematics but for the universe itself. Science and mathematics writer Siobhan Roberts has had close access to Conway at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, to his colleagues, and to his family over several years. As a result, Genius At Play presents a unique and intimate portrait of the mind and work of perhaps the world's most acclaimed mathematician. Anyone interested in mathematics, in game playing, indeed, in genius itself, will find it unforgettable., "Conway is a creative genius."- Martin Gardner An unabashed original, John Horton Conway is Archimedes, Mick Jagger, Salvador Dali, and Richard Feynman all rolled into one-a singular mathematician, with a rock star's charisma, a sly sense of humor, a polymath's promiscuous curiosity, and a burning desire to explain everything about the world to everyone in it.Born in Liverpool in 1937, Conway found fame as a barefoot Cambridge professor. He discovered the Conway groups in mathematical symmetry, and invented the aptly named surreal numbers, as well as the cult classic Game of Life-more than a cool fad, Life demonstrates how simplicity generates complexity and the game provides an analogy for all mathematics and the entire universe. Moving to Princeton in 1987, as a mathemagician he deployed cards, ropes, dice, coat hangers, and even the odd Slinky as props to extend his winning imagination and share his mathy obsessions with signature contagion. He is a jet-setting ambassador-at-large for the beauties of all things mathematical. Genius At Play is an intimate investigation into the mind of an endearing genius, laying bare Conway's personal and professional idiosyncrasies. The intimacy comes courtesy of the man himself. He generously granted Roberts full access, though not without the occasional grudge and grumble: "Oh hell," he'd say. "You're not going to put that in the book. Are you?!?", "Conway is a creative genius."-Martin GardnerBorn in Liverpool in 1937, John Horton Conway found fame as a Cambridge professor, making a pivotal contribution to the field of mathematical symmetry and inventing "surreal numbers." A beloved teacher at Princeton University since 1987, he deploys cards, dice, coat hangers, and sometimes a Slinky as props to explain the beauties of mathematics. His myriad contributions to game theory, knot theory, number theory, coding theory, group theory, and geometry are legendary. Conway is most celebrated for his 1970s cult classic "Game of Life." One of the first cellular automata, the game plays out on a grid and is governed by three simple rules whereby proliferating cells resemble skittering microorganisms viewed under a microscope. More than just a cool fad, Life had broad cultural and scientific influence, showing how simplicity generates emergent complexity and providing an analogy not only for all mathematics but for the universe itself. Science and mathematics writer Siobhan Roberts, a visitor at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, has had close access to Conway, to his colleagues, and to his family over several years. As a result, "Genius At Play" presents a unique and intimate portrait of the mind and work of one of the world's most acclaimed mathematicians. Anyone interested in mathematics, in game playing, indeed, in genius itself, will find it unforgettable., Conway is a creative genius." --Martin Gardner An unabashed original, John Horton Conway is Archimedes, Mick Jagger, Salvador Dali, and Richard Feynman all rolled into one--a singular mathematician, with a rock star's charisma, a sly sense of humor, a polymath's promiscuous curiosity, and a burning desire to explain everything about the world to everyone in it. Born in Liverpool in 1937, Conway found fame as a barefoot Cambridge professor. He discovered the Conway groups in mathematical symmetry, and invented the aptly named surreal numbers, as well as the cult classic Game of Life--more than a cool fad, Life demonstrates how simplicity generates complexity and the game provides an analogy for all mathematics and the entire universe. Moving to Princeton in 1987, as a mathemagician he deployed cards, ropes, dice, coat hangers, and even the odd Slinky as props to extend his winning imagination and share his mathy obsessions with signature contagion. He is a jet-setting ambassador-at-large for the beauties of all things mathematical. Genius At Play is an intimate investigation into the mind of an endearing genius, laying bare Conway's personal and professional idiosyncrasies. The intimacy comes courtesy of the man himself. He generously granted Roberts full access, though not without the occasional grudge and grumble: "Oh hell," he'd say. "You're not going to put that in the book. Are you?!?, Genius at Play is an intimate investigation into the mind of an endearing genius, laying bare Conway's personal and professional idiosyncrasies. The intimacy comes courtesy of the man himself. He generously granted Roberts full access, though not without the occasional grudge and grumble. "Oh hell," he'd say. "You're not going to put that in the book. Are you?!?", Inside the eccentric world of John Horton Conway, gifted polymath and inventor of the Game of Life.
9781620405932 English 1620405938 "Conway is a creative genius." --Martin Gardner Born in Liverpool in 1937, John Horton Conway found fame as a Cambridge professor, making a pivotal contribution to the field of mathematical symmetry and inventing "surreal numbers." A beloved teacher at Princeton University since 1987, he deploys cards, dice, coat hangers, and sometimes a Slinky as props to explain the beauties of mathematics. His myriad contributions to game theory, knot theory, number theory, coding theory, group theory, and geometry are legendary. Conway is most celebrated for his 1970s cult classic "Game of Life." One of the first cellular automata, the game plays out on a grid and is governed by three simple rules whereby proliferating cells resemble skittering microorganisms viewed under a microscope. More than just a cool fad, Life had broad cultural and scientific influence, showing how simplicity generates emergent complexity and providing an analogy not only for all mathematics but for the universe itself. Science and mathematics writer Siobhan Roberts has had close access to Conway at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, to his colleagues, and to his family over several years. As a result, "Genius At Play" presents a unique and intimate portrait of the mind and work of perhaps the world's most acclaimed mathematician. Anyone interested in mathematics, in game playing, indeed, in genius itself, will find it unforgettable., "Conway is a creative genius." Martin Gardner Born in Liverpool in 1937, John Horton Conway found fame as a Cambridge professor, making a pivotal contribution to the field of mathematical symmetry and inventing "surreal numbers." A beloved teacher at Princeton University since 1987, he deploys cards, dice, coat hangers, and sometimes a Slinky as props to explain the beauties of mathematics. His myriad contributions to game theory, knot theory, number theory, coding theory, group theory, and geometry are legendary. Conway is most celebrated for his 1970s cult classic "Game of Life." One of the first cellular automata, the game plays out on a grid and is governed by three simple rules whereby proliferating cells resemble skittering microorganisms viewed under a microscope. More than just a cool fad, Life had broad cultural and scientific influence, showing how simplicity generates emergent complexity and providing an analogy not only for all mathematics but for the universe itself. Science and mathematics writer Siobhan Roberts has had close access to Conway at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, to his colleagues, and to his family over several years. As a result, Genius At Play presents a unique and intimate portrait of the mind and work of perhaps the world's most acclaimed mathematician. Anyone interested in mathematics, in game playing, indeed, in genius itself, will find it unforgettable., "Conway is a creative genius."- Martin Gardner An unabashed original, John Horton Conway is Archimedes, Mick Jagger, Salvador Dali, and Richard Feynman all rolled into one-a singular mathematician, with a rock star's charisma, a sly sense of humor, a polymath's promiscuous curiosity, and a burning desire to explain everything about the world to everyone in it.Born in Liverpool in 1937, Conway found fame as a barefoot Cambridge professor. He discovered the Conway groups in mathematical symmetry, and invented the aptly named surreal numbers, as well as the cult classic Game of Life-more than a cool fad, Life demonstrates how simplicity generates complexity and the game provides an analogy for all mathematics and the entire universe. Moving to Princeton in 1987, as a mathemagician he deployed cards, ropes, dice, coat hangers, and even the odd Slinky as props to extend his winning imagination and share his mathy obsessions with signature contagion. He is a jet-setting ambassador-at-large for the beauties of all things mathematical. Genius At Play is an intimate investigation into the mind of an endearing genius, laying bare Conway's personal and professional idiosyncrasies. The intimacy comes courtesy of the man himself. He generously granted Roberts full access, though not without the occasional grudge and grumble: "Oh hell," he'd say. "You're not going to put that in the book. Are you?!?", "Conway is a creative genius."-Martin GardnerBorn in Liverpool in 1937, John Horton Conway found fame as a Cambridge professor, making a pivotal contribution to the field of mathematical symmetry and inventing "surreal numbers." A beloved teacher at Princeton University since 1987, he deploys cards, dice, coat hangers, and sometimes a Slinky as props to explain the beauties of mathematics. His myriad contributions to game theory, knot theory, number theory, coding theory, group theory, and geometry are legendary. Conway is most celebrated for his 1970s cult classic "Game of Life." One of the first cellular automata, the game plays out on a grid and is governed by three simple rules whereby proliferating cells resemble skittering microorganisms viewed under a microscope. More than just a cool fad, Life had broad cultural and scientific influence, showing how simplicity generates emergent complexity and providing an analogy not only for all mathematics but for the universe itself. Science and mathematics writer Siobhan Roberts, a visitor at Princeton's Institute for Advanced Study, has had close access to Conway, to his colleagues, and to his family over several years. As a result, "Genius At Play" presents a unique and intimate portrait of the mind and work of one of the world's most acclaimed mathematicians. Anyone interested in mathematics, in game playing, indeed, in genius itself, will find it unforgettable., Conway is a creative genius." --Martin Gardner An unabashed original, John Horton Conway is Archimedes, Mick Jagger, Salvador Dali, and Richard Feynman all rolled into one--a singular mathematician, with a rock star's charisma, a sly sense of humor, a polymath's promiscuous curiosity, and a burning desire to explain everything about the world to everyone in it. Born in Liverpool in 1937, Conway found fame as a barefoot Cambridge professor. He discovered the Conway groups in mathematical symmetry, and invented the aptly named surreal numbers, as well as the cult classic Game of Life--more than a cool fad, Life demonstrates how simplicity generates complexity and the game provides an analogy for all mathematics and the entire universe. Moving to Princeton in 1987, as a mathemagician he deployed cards, ropes, dice, coat hangers, and even the odd Slinky as props to extend his winning imagination and share his mathy obsessions with signature contagion. He is a jet-setting ambassador-at-large for the beauties of all things mathematical. Genius At Play is an intimate investigation into the mind of an endearing genius, laying bare Conway's personal and professional idiosyncrasies. The intimacy comes courtesy of the man himself. He generously granted Roberts full access, though not without the occasional grudge and grumble: "Oh hell," he'd say. "You're not going to put that in the book. Are you?!?, Genius at Play is an intimate investigation into the mind of an endearing genius, laying bare Conway's personal and professional idiosyncrasies. The intimacy comes courtesy of the man himself. He generously granted Roberts full access, though not without the occasional grudge and grumble. "Oh hell," he'd say. "You're not going to put that in the book. Are you?!?", Inside the eccentric world of John Horton Conway, gifted polymath and inventor of the Game of Life.