Book Review - The Man Who Knew Infinity - Robert Kanigel

The trip planned though was screwed a bit, I am happy about the things I was able to do. I guess, I should more often go on a long journey in a train during the day. Last week, the trip to CBE turned out to be a good one in two aspects. Not only did I meet a pal, but also was able to finish reading "The Man who knew Infinity" by Robert Kanigel.

This was perhaps my first biography reading about a mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan, one of the greatest ever. The book is extremely well written. The amount of research done on the subject shows up.

Be it, the details of his home town Kumbakonam, his family, his eccentricism, his passion for numbers, his struggle to get a job by showcasing his mathematical talent is well depicted. Then on, his efforts in finding a mentor, Hardy's role in his life, his trip to Cambridge and his work there makes the book a documentary in front of the eyes. Kanigel draws the picture of Ramanujan exemplifying himself in his work, becoming an enigma to his peers. At the peak of his success, becoming a Fellow of the Royal Society, his failing health short circuits what he would have achieved had he lived longer or "rediscovered" sooner, as Hardy puts it.

I best part of book I liked was Ramanujan's days in Cambridge. It brought a desire in me to at least visit the place sometime, if not more.

I would recommend the book to anyone having a taste for reading biographies, and more so something related to science.

This book added another - to read - in my list - A Mathematician's Apology by GH Hardy.

PS: I have heard somewhere that a movie is being made based on the book. Hope its as good.

Book Review - One Night at the Call Center, Five Point Someone by Chetan Bhagat

I have gone back to a rigorous reading schedule off late. Though, it started off with some light reading, I have been able to read some serious stuff too. Let me write about what I read here.

After all, its been ages since I took time to write something on the blog myself, apart from posting pictures.

The two novels, One night at the Call Center and Five point someone - what not to do at IIT, by Chetan Bhagat, are easy reads. The plot in each of them is quite simple. A little drama - at office, in the first and at college in the second, makes the novel out of the real world. A bunch of young guys and gals who work in the call center, their life - in and out of work, is portrayed in the first. A li'l bit of lovey-dovey between a couple, office tensions between the colleagues makes it correlatable. Not to forget the bad boss who always is ready to screw.

The second, has the story around a bunch of guys who after a lot of "struggle" enter into the premier tech institute, IIT being toppers, who then become average students, not to mention distracted, then struggle to get themselves see through their degrees. Of course, there is some college romance, the tid-bits of college hostel life.

Both the books, I read were selling like hot cakes at some point! Though, I didn't find them as good, it is a good time-pass for a boring day or long journey.