A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines

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Janet Hamilton, December 27, 2006 (view all comments by Janet Hamilton)
This book is not for everyone. This book is not for those unwilling to ask hard questions or work through mathematical explanations way beyond their own limited capacities. This book is for those willing to wonder what they might learn about themselves from a fictionalized study of the lives of some of the world?s most brilliant minds. Kurt Godel, responsible for the incompleteness theory, and Alan Turing, a brilliant World War II decoder, and computer pioneer are the main math wizards. Men of genius, they make major contributions to the world, but find it next to impossible to function as human beings in that world. Godel and Turing never meet in person, though their ideas reverberate in each other?s heads. In fact, this book is largely about how ideas stir up human lives and communicate in ways in which humans are unable to. The philosopher Wittgenstein as well as other historic thinkers from the Vienna Circle play their parts as readers are asked to consider existential questions that plague us all. The main subject here is how within the fragile framework of our human frailty we cultivate or torture our monumental minds.

The author, Janna Levin, herself a physicist, finds it necessary to insert herself into the story. She does this, perhaps, because she does not have confidence in her own powers to let the story convey its own meaning, which it does quite well. Yes, we are all limited. Yes, we are all boundless. Yes, we all want to be acknowledged and seen. And yes, it is probably going to be our fate to be disappointed in ourselves. Some will look at this book and find much to criticize, while some will find much to praise. Perhaps both praise and criticism will come from the same lips. That?s the point. As Levin says: ?That was us?funny and lousy and great all at once.? Read it. You're bound to find something out about some great minds, as well as about yourself.

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Product Details

ISBN:

9781400040308

Author:

Levin, Janna

Publisher:

Knopf

Subject:

Great britain

Subject:

Philosophy

Subject:

Historical - British

Subject:

Historical - General

Subject:

Mathematicians

Subject:

Scientists - General

Subject:

General Fiction

Copyright:

2006

Publication Date:

August 2006

Binding:

Hardback

Grade Level:

General/trade

Language:

English

Pages:

240

Dimensions:

8.5 x 5.8 x 1.1 in .95 lb