Courant [Paperback]

Constance Reid (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 19, 1996

"...a story of great mathematicians and their achievements, of practical successes and failures, and of human perfidy and generosity...this is one of the still too rare occasions in which mathematicians are shown as frail, flesh-and-blood creatures...a very worthwhile book." -CHOICE

Editorial Reviews

Review

From the reviews: EMS NEWSLETTER "...fascinating and well written..." THE BULLETIN OF MATHEMATICS BOOKS "Originally published to great acclaim, both books explore the dramatic scientific history expressed in the lives of these two great scientists and described in the lively, nontechnical writing style of Constance Reid."  

About the Author

Constance Reid has been called "the foremost mathematical biographer of our time." Her many books include From Zero to Infinity, A Long Way from Euclid, The Search for E.T. Bell, and Neyman, from Life.

Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: Springer; 1 edition (April 19, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0387946705
• ISBN-13: 978-0387946702
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,636,174 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Builder of Centers of Excellence in Mathematics, June 26, 2005

By 

Cassey Lee (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Courant (Paperback)

This is a book that would interest people who enjoy reading books about the history of mathematics, particularly about the communities and and institutions of mathematics. The period covered is from the late 19th Century. Courant was student and later, a colleague of the famous mathematician Hilbert at Gottingen. Courant is obviously not as famous as Hilbert and the book does not focus on his achievements in mathematics. Instead, it discusses more about how he relates to other mathematicians, and his tireless efforts in trying to establish and nurture two centers of excellence in mathematics - the Mathematical Institute at Gottingen and the Courant Institute of Mathematics at New York.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!!!!, August 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Courant (Paperback)

If you are interested in mathematics and are/aren't a mathematician, if you are interested in American/German jewish history of the 20th century, if you are interested in science during WW2, you will love this book - I did!

4.0 out of 5 stars A Builder of Centers of Excellence in Mathematics, March 16, 2007

By 

Cassey Lee (Malaysia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Courant (Paperback)

This is a book that would interest people who enjoy reading books about the history of mathematics, particularly about the communities and and institutions of mathematics. The period covered is from the late 19th Century. Courant was student and later, a colleague of the famous mathematician Hilbert at Gottingen. Courant is obviously not as famous as Hilbert and the book does not focus on his achievements in mathematics. Instead, it discusses more about how he relates to other mathematicians, and his tireless efforts in trying to establish and nurture two centers of excellence in mathematics - the Mathematical Institute at Gottingen and the Courant Institute of Mathematics at New York.