A History in Sum: 150 Years of Mathematics at Harvard (1825-1975) - Hardcover

Steven J Nadis; Shing-Tung Yau

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 067472500X ISBN 13: 9780674725003

Publisher: Harvard University Press, 2013

Synopsis

In the twentieth century, American mathematicians began to make critical advances in a field previously dominated by Europeans. Harvard's mathematics department was at the center of these developments. A History in Sum is an inviting account of the pioneers who trailblazed a distinctly American tradition of mathematics--in algebraic geometry and topology, complex analysis, number theory, and a host of esoteric subdisciplines that have rarely been written about outside of journal articles or advanced textbooks. The heady mathematical concepts that emerged, and the men and women who shaped them, are described here in lively, accessible prose. The story begins in 1825, when a precocious sixteen-year-old freshman, Benjamin Peirce, arrived at the College. He would become the first American to produce original mathematics--an ambition frowned upon in an era when professors largely limited themselves to teaching. Peirce's successors--William Fogg Osgood and Maxime Bocher--undertook the task of transforming the math department into a world-class research center, attracting to the faculty such luminaries as George David Birkhoff. Birkhoff produced a dazzling body of work, while training a generation of innovators--students like Marston Morse and Hassler Whitney, who forged novel pathways in topology and other areas. Influential figures from around the world soon flocked to Harvard, some overcoming great challenges to pursue their elected calling. A History in Sum elucidates the contributions of these extraordinary minds and makes clear why the history of the Harvard mathematics department is an essential part of the history of mathematics in America and beyond.

About this title

Product Description

Rare Book

Review

This book tells the tale of how mathematics developed at Harvard--and by extension in the United States--since early days. It is filled with fascinating stories about some of the legendary names of modern mathematics. Both fans of mathematics and readers curious about the history of Harvard will enjoy it.--Edward Witten, Professor of Physics, Institute for Advanced Study

The book is written in a leisurely style, the scope is remarkably broad, and the topics covered are explained astonishingly well. Once I started the book, I simply couldn't put it down and I was ecstatic to easily understand important mathematics far from my own research interests.--Joel Smoller, Professor of Mathematics, University of Michigan

The remarkable result is an account, at a consistently clear, non-specialist level, of a wide swath of modern mathematics.--Albert C. Lewis"Mathematical Reviews (starred review)" (06/01/2014)

A History in Sum is a beautiful tribute to a beautiful subject, one that illuminates mathematics through the lens of some of its most remarkable practitioners. The authors' love of mathematics shines through every chapter, as they use accessible and spirited language to describe a wealth of heady insights and the all-too-human stories of the minds that discovered them. There is perhaps no better book for immersion into the curious and compelling history of mathematical thought.--Brian Greene, Professor of Mathematics & Physics, Columbia University

A History in Sum contains a wealth of good stories, stories that go to the heart of the development of mathematics in this country. The authors succeed in humanizing and enlivening what might otherwise be a dry treatment of the subject.--Ron Irving, Professor of Mathematics, University of Washington

Nadis and Yau are very successful at bringing some of the major figures in American mathematics to life. A History in Sum is a genuine and valuable addition to the world of mathematical biography.--Paul Lockhart, author of Measurement

A triumph! I know of no other book like A History in Sum. Nadis and Yau offer a delightfully lucid introduction to the dazzling and heroic ideas of twentieth-century mathematics--and the colorful personalities and stories behind them.--Steven Strogatz, author of The Joy of X: A Guided Tour of Math, from One to Infinity

The development of American mathematics, and American education more generally, cannot be told without an account of Harvard University...Though a department history seems like a parochial exercise, Harvard's mathematics department's history is much bigger and well worth the read.--J. McCleary"Choice" (05/01/2014)

[The authors] treat mathematics of ever-increasing theoretical difficulty with hands that manage deftly...to reveal the spirit, the excitement, and the dynamics of the mathematical endeavor at the cutting edge of research.--Karen Hunger Parshall"Canadian Journal of History" (10/01/2014)

Yau and Nadis succeed admirably in making clear how Harvard has long served as a magnet, attracting some of the world's best mathematicians and thus making it an exciting place to be, a melting pot of mathematical activity.--Joseph W. Dauben"Isis" (06/01/2015)

Edition details

• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 067472500X
• ISBN 13: 9780674725003
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 240