Ioan Mackenzie James Livres

Ioan James celebrates the extraordinary contribution made by Jewish people in mathematics and physics, from the mathematician Norbert Wiener, the founder of cybernetics, to distinguished nuclear physicist and Nobel Prize-winner Niels Bohr. He tells the life-stories of thirty-five men and women, born in the nineteenth century, who were at the forefront of research in the closely related fields of mathematics and physics, often in the face of various kinds of anti-Semitism.Some were caught up in the trauma of the Nazi accession to power in Germany and the Second World War. Wolfgang Pauli, described as ‘greater than Einstein’ by his contemporary Max Born, became a German national following the Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938 but was able to escape to the United States for the duration of the war. Already hampered by anti-Semitism in his native Poland, logician and mathematician Alfred Tarski found himself stranded in the USA at the outbreak of war and did not see his wife and sons until the war’s end. The Italian mathematician Vito Volterra publicly opposed Mussolini’s Fascist regime at considerable personal risk. Others such as George Pólya and Emmy Noether found that their left-wing political beliefs hindered their careers.

Focusing on the evolution of modern physics from the late 17th century, this collection presents brief biographies of 55 influential physicists. It highlights their remarkable contributions while minimizing technical jargon, making it accessible for readers with varying levels of background knowledge. The book serves as an inviting overview of the discipline's development, appealing to those interested in the historical context and personal stories behind significant scientific advancements.

The book features sixty mathematicians whose stories illustrate the evolution of mathematics into its contemporary form. Through these portrayals, it highlights key contributions and the historical context that shaped mathematical thought, providing insights into the lives and work of influential figures in the field.

This fascinating collection identifies famous figures from the past whose behaviour suggests they may have had autism, a disorder that was not defined until the mid-20th century. James looks at the lives of 20 individuals - scientists, artists, politicians and philosophers - examining their interests, successes, indifferences and shortcomings.

Highlighting the contributions of 51 pivotal engineers over the past 400 years, this book explores their innovations that laid the groundwork for modern electronics and communications. Each profile delves into the engineers' unique achievements and the impact of their work on technology and society, showcasing the evolution of engineering through historical context and personal stories.

Podtitul: mimořádní lidé – mimořádné výkony Kniha se zabývá dvaceti významnými historickými osobnostmi, jež s velkou pravděpodobností trpěly mírnou formou autismu, konkrétně tzv. Aspergerovým syndromem. Jsou to umělci, státníci, filozofové i vědci: Michelangelo Buonarroti, Filip II. Španělský, Isaac Newton, Jonathan Swift, John Howard, Henry Cavendish, Thomas Jefferson, Vincent van Gogh, Eric Satie, Bertrand Russell, Albert Einstein, Béla Bartók, Ramanudžan, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Alfred Kinsey, Simone Weilová, Alan Turing, Patricia Highsmithová, Andy Warhol, Glenn Gould. Autor naznačuje, že současný zájem o Aspergerův syndrom by mohl pramenit z nezachytitelného prvku výstřednosti, skrývajícího se v každém z nás. Lidé trpící Aspergerovým syndromem mívají často pocit, jako by zde na Zemi byli cizinci, jako by se ocitli na nepravé planetě; přesto mnohdy dosahují významných úspěchů.