Mystery of the Aleph (Abridged)

by Amir D. Aczel Narrated by Henry Levya

Overview

From the end of the 19th century until his death, one of history's most brilliant mathematicians languished in an asylum. The Mystery of the Aleph tells the story of Georg Cantor (1845-1918), a Russian-born German who created set theory, the concept of infinite numbers, and the "continuum hypothesis," which challenged the very foundations of mathematics. His ideas brought expected denunciation from established corners - he was called a "corruptor of youth" not only for his work in mathematics, but for his larger attempts to meld spirituality and science.

Editorial Reviews

DEC 02/JAN 03 - AudioFile

Russian-born Georg Cantor died in an insane asylum in 1918. But during his life, in his career as a mathematician, Cantor gave the scientific world set theory, the continuum hypothesis, and transfinite numbers. He discovered that infinity is as much an arithmetic concept as it is a religious one, and that there are numerous orders of infinity. Henry Leyva reads the story of Cantor and the other great minds in this history of infinity: the Pythagoreans and the Kabbalists, as well as Galileo, Balzano, Zermelo, and Godel. Leyva's reading is strong and persuasive, although his pronunciation of certain foreign names and terms is dubious. In all, a brilliant and enlightening story. S.E.S. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

DEC 02/JAN 03 - AudioFile

Russian-born Georg Cantor died in an insane asylum in 1918. But during his life, in his career as a mathematician, Cantor gave the scientific world set theory, the continuum hypothesis, and transfinite numbers. He discovered that infinity is as much an arithmetic concept as it is a religious one, and that there are numerous orders of infinity. Henry Leyva reads the story of Cantor and the other great minds in this history of infinity: the Pythagoreans and the Kabbalists, as well as Galileo, Balzano, Zermelo, and Godel. Leyva's reading is strong and persuasive, although his pronunciation of certain foreign names and terms is dubious. In all, a brilliant and enlightening story. S.E.S. © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169495805
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	09/04/2001
Edition description:	Abridged

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