Reviewer:
Phlag
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favoritefavorite -
June 12, 2005
Subject:
Fun with Mathematics is hardly "fun"
Note: the MPEG4 versions now have audible sound, so download without worry.
This lecture is a collection of random anecdotes from Kaplansky's life with the loose theme of 4 keys to being a successful mathematician. DonÂt let the title mislead you. Although non-mathematicians will have no problem understanding the bulk of this lecture, I would find it incredibly unlikely that they would enjoy it. Although Kaplansky is indeed an incredibly bright man, his speaking sounds un-planned and without rehearsal, filled with fumbling and too many silences. The themes seemed often insignificant wholly boring to me. For example - a large portion of this lecture is dedicated to the dull history of foreign mathematics reviews. Far too many of these anecdotes end with Kaplansky saying something like, ÂBut the library has the book on reserve, so I gave up. Or, ÂBut I donÂt remember how I did it, and I donÂt have my notes.Â
On the whole, I don't see how a non-mathematician would enjoy this; a lot of actual mathematicians will probably be disappointed as well.
Reviewer:
Graham Brown
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favoritefavoritefavoritefavoritefavorite -
December 24, 2004
Subject:
Brilliant stuff even to a non-mathematician
I enjoyed this even though being a non-mathematician. This guy is obviously a big cheese in the maths world and talks in a very engaging way about his subject.