by Paul Hoffman

isbn: 0786863625
subject: Nonfiction, Biography, Mathematics
finished: 5/17/1999

Paul Erdos was one of the most prolific mathematicians who ever proved a theorem. He was also incredibly eccentric, and was never interested in women, in money, or in having a place to live. Although it was interesting, his life was not all that eventful, so this book is more a biography of Erdos and his circle of mathematical friends than just a biography of Erdos himself. It also provides an introduction to some of the areas of mathematics that Erdos explored. Unfortunately (if you ask me) the math is high-school level, although of course this makes the book accessible to many more people. As biographies go, this is a very readable and engaging one; recommended.