In this biography, Sylvia Nasar recreates the life of a mathematical genius whose brilliant career was cut short by schizophrenia and who, after three decades of devastating mental illness, miraculously recovered and was honored with a Nobel Prize. A Beautiful Mind traces the meteoric rise of John Forbes Nash, Jr., from his lonely childhood in West Virginia to his student years at Princeton, where he encountered Albert Einstein, John von Neumann, and a host of other mathematical luminaries. At 21, the handsome, ambitious, eccentric graduate student invented what would become the most influential theory of rational human behavior in modern social science. Nash's contribution to game theory would ultimately revolutionize the field of economics. At 30, Nash was poised to take his dreamed-of place in the pantheon of history's greatest mathematicians. Then Nash suffered a catastrophic mental breakdown. Nasar details Nash's harrowing descent into insanity - his bizarre delusions that he was the Prince of Peace; his resignation from MIT, flight to Europe, and attempt to renounce his American citizenship; his repeated hospitalizations, from the storied McLean, where he came to know the poet Robert Lowell, to the crowded wards of a state hospital; his "enforced interludes of rationality" during which he was able to return briefly to mathematical research. At age 66, twin miracles - a spontaneous remission of his illness and the sudden decision of the Nobel Prize committee to honor his contributions to game theory - restored the world to him. Nasar recounts the bitter behind-the-scenes battle in Stockholm over whether to grant the ultimate honor in science to a man thought to be "mad." She describes Nash's current ambition to pursue new mathematical breakthroughs and his efforts to be a loving father to his adult son.

Released on Monday, December 08, 2003 at SENT TO FELLOW BOOKCROSSER in RABCK, postal release USA.

Mailing off to luv2sewtjr...enjoy!

This just came in today. It looks fabulous, so I might be rearranging my TBR pile!

This was a fantastic book. The only reason I rated it a 7 was due to the fact that the first half of the book discusses a lot of mathematical theory. Now, I have a background in math and physics and I personally felt that the book almost gets bogged down in the math. I'm guessing that many readers skim over the technical parts.

Aside from discussing John Nash's mathematical achievements and his health problems, this book does an outstanding job placing the reader in the context of society (at that time). It is interesting to read about the effect of WWII and the Cold War on the expansion of graduate study in the United States. As well as the Red Scare and the huge stigmas against homosexuals and the mentally ill.

This book is going to LOGOphelia as part of a trade. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I forgot to add: After reading this book, I'm not sure that I want to see the movie.

Thank you so much for this! I loved the movie and look forward to reading the book.

Very very interesting, but on the long side. I saw the movie first and thought it did a much better job that Nasar did at communicating why people were as drawn to Nash as they were. Nasar describes Nash as handsome and charming at time, but cruel and unapproachable much of the other times. She sounds infatuated and makes a lot of leaps ("X" may be the reason "Y" happened). The haunting sum of Nash's experiences lies in Nash's relationship with his schizophrenic son at the end of the book....

Released on Monday, April 12, 2004 at Miscellaneous Bookbox for "RKIDS" mailing list in West Chester, Ohio Controlled Releases.

This book is traveling in the "miscellaneous" bookbox circulating among my RKIDS list friends.

I received it in a book box from a friend. I plan to read it soon. Maybe on my upcoming vacation.

Great story but parts were a little tough to read. Very detailed info about his early life and research. Overall, I liked it!

Release planned for Monday, July 19, 2004 at Bolton Library in Bolton, Massachusetts USA.

Left in the summer book swap shelves.