The Man Who Knew Infinity
A Life of the Genius Ramanujan
by Robert Kanigel · first published 1991
88% recommend12% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Moving biography of Ramanujan, from poverty in India to his collaboration with Hardy at Cambridge, and his early death. Valued for its picture of his life and era; readable even without a math background.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
A biography of the Indian mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. The book gives a detailed account of his upbringing in India, his mathematical achievements, and his mathematical collaboration with English mathematician G. H. Hardy. The book also reviews the life of Hardy and the academic culture of Cambridge University during the early twentieth century.
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I loved reading Robert Kanigel's biography - "The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan." Recommended for people who want to know more about the genius mathematician.
on “Srinivasa Ramanujan” ↗…deepest mathematical insights of anyone who existed. People are still trying to figure out what the things he wrote down meant. If you want to know more about his life, there's a great book called "The Man who Knew Infinity" (http://www.amazon.com/The-Man-Who-Knew-Infinity/dp/067175061...)
on “Modern math solves Ramanujan’s ‘vision’ - may clarify black holes” ↗I read "The Man Who Knew Infinity" - Ramanujan's biography and it was fantastic read. http://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Knew-Infinity-Ramanujan/dp/068... Do check out recommendations by Amazon, seems like a great set of books.
on “A Life that Added Up to Something: Paul Erdos (1996)” ↗…years. What he could have accomplished, had he lived, is a tragedy of the first order to mathematics and the human quest for truth. Here is a good biography if you are interested: https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Knew-Infinity-Ramanujan/dp/14...
on “The fifth hyperfactorial: 5⁵×4⁴×3³×2²×1¹=86400000 milliseconds is exactly 1 day” ↗…It definitely would be a good read once you are through with the brief introduction into their professional lives. I myself being too obsessed with mathematics loved this biography of Ramanujan - The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan. ISBN:0671750615
on “The Indian Clerk” ↗…and (2) The New New Thing by Michael Lewis, about Jim Clark And two that, while light on content (i.e. math), never fail to stimulate the childlike nature of my inner aspiring mathematician: (1) The Man Who Knew Infinity by Robert Kanigel, on Ramanujan and (2) The Man Who Loved Only Numbers by Paul Hoffman, on Paul Erdos.
on “Ask HN: Inspirational Biographies” ↗robert-kanigel's book, "the man who knew infinity" is an excellent chronicle into his life, and cambridge's culture during 20th century. it was hardy who created a rising scale of mathematical abilities as follows: g.h.hardy - 25 littlewood - 30…
on “The legacy of Srinivasa Ramanujan” ↗Its great to see Ramunujan getting a fair bit of attention these days. His story is really fascinating. I can recommend: https://www.amazon.com/Man-Who-Knew-Infinity-Ramanujan/dp/06... This was also made into a movie a couple of months ago, I haven't seen the movie but it should be on netflix/itunes by now since I don't think it had a wide theatrical release. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0787524/
on “Three Puzzles Inspired by Ramanujan” ↗…Speaks in Numbers: How Modern Math Reveals Nature's Deepest Secrets - Graham Farmelo The Man Who Loved Only Numbers: The Story of Paul Erdos and the Search for Mathematical Truth - Paul Hoffman The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan - Robert Kanigel Also, I haven't read it yet myself, but I have heard good things about The Last Lecture[1] by Randy Pausch, and have it queued up to read soon. [1]:…
on “Ask HN: What are some good inspirational and uplifting books?” ↗The Catcher in the Rye by J.D.Salinger because of the Holden Caulfield in me who couldn't tolerate all the phoniness around. Also enjoyed The Man Who Knew Infinity by Robert Kanigel. After reading about Hardy in this book, I have read "A Mathematician's Apology" which was excellent too.
on “Ask HN: Best book you read in 2010 and briefly why” ↗The man who knew infinity, by Robert Kanigel is a very good read and gives good insight into the life of Ramanujan.
on “Ramanujan's Notebooks” ↗"The Man Who Knew Infinity" by Robert Kanigel on Ramanujan is good. "Georg Cantor" by Joseph Dauben is dense but interesting; it is closer to a mathematical treatment of Cantor's works than a biographical one. Some experience…
on “‘The Fractalist,’ Benoit B. Mandelbrot’s Math Memoir” ↗…leap-frogged certain aspects of mathematics via true and real innovative Computer Science: (the Einstein of India. Every country and family has their very own Einstein, you might be one of them.) The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan http://www.amazon.com/The-Man-Who-Knew-Infinity/dp/067175061...
on “Ask HN: What are some important math topics every programmer should know?” ↗I really enjoyed the Man who knew Infinity by Kanigel. Seemed to capture the flavor of Cambridge at the time. It's a movie too, but I haven't seen it.
on “Ask HN: Biographies recommendations – both Westerner and Non-westerner” ↗The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan by Robert Kanigel ; it's impossible to understand how he figured out the amazing things he did. His story is a tragedy. Locke: A biography by Roger Woolhouse ; the father…
on “Ask HN: Biographies recommendations – both Westerner and Non-westerner” ↗