The Man Who Knew Infinity

A Life of the Genius Ramanujan

By: Robert Kanigel

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

Length: 17 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1913, an unschooled young Indian clerk wrote a letter to G. H. Hardy, begging that preeminent English mathematician's opinion on several ideas he had about numbers. Hardy, realizing the letter was the work of a genius, arranged for Srinivasa Ramanujan to come to England. Thus began one of the most remarkable collaborations ever chronicled.

With a passion for rich and evocative detail, Robert Kanigel takes us from the temples and teeming slums of Madras to the courts and chapels of Cambridge University, where the devout Hindu Ramanujan, "the Prince of Intuition", tested his brilliant theories alongside the sophisticated and eccentric Hardy, "the Apostle of Proof". In time, Ramanujan's creative intensity took its toll: he died at the age of 32, but left behind a magical and inspired legacy that today is still being plumbed for its secrets.

©1991 Robert Kanigel (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Moving and astonishing." (Publishers Weekly)

"Extremely well-researched and well-written biography." (Library Journal)

Fantastic story by an excellent narrator

I will gladly listen to Humphrey Bower read anything - if he was listing the names of my children’s fellow classmates at their graduation, even that drudgery would be enjoyable.

gripping accurate and most readable<br />

the best bio of Ramanujan . thoroughly researched and brilliant ly chronicled
will delight you. hard to put down.

Absolutely fantastic!

This was one of the best reads I have listened to all year, one gets the sense of how to write a biography simply by listening to how this was constructed. Intimate, insightful, lucid and inspiring.

well researched, excellent book, great narration

I don't write very many reviews but this book encouraged me to write one.

Its hard to write a book on Ramanujan without the mention of mathematics but the author does a wonderful job to not put off non mathematicians while listening. One can appreciate the profound activity without getting into the details.

The nice thing to appreciate, other than Ramanujan's work is also the leadership shown by Hardy. The English mathematician could recognize and appreciate the genius in the man without any pride especially after other senior mathematicians like Baker and Hobson failing to do so. I wish we have more of such leaders in today's world who can recognize talent and encourage it. Think about the thousands of Ramanujan's that exists in this world today but go un-noticed cause they have not found their Hardy or vice versa.

On the other hand its amazing to see that such a gifted man was driven to a point in his life so as to contemplate suicide. The man not only suffered from tuberculosis but also the usual mother-in-law daughter-in-law conflicts that has plagued the society for centuries now. May be the world just does not deserve to have the gifts of such a genius. Just unfortunate he did not live long enough.

The book is quite long for me but thoroughly enjoyable.

Thorough and Captivating!

A thorough and captivating biography of Ramanujan! Very well written and read. A bit too long, as it covers the biography of GH Hardy as well. But, it is more than made up by the interesting writing style, detail and presentation. I loved it!!!

Thorough and Enjoyable

This book explores (1) the influences of South India on Ramanujan's development, (2) the influences of the British educational system and society on GH Hardy and the other English scholars with whom Ramanujan met and worked and (3) the effects of those different influences on both Ramanujan and the English, personally and professionally.

Mathematical achievement is at the core of Ramanujan's story, and Kanigel does a good job of integrating it. A vague memory of high school math is required of the listener, and Kanigel uses that basis to explain both the directions and importance of Ramanujan's work, without trying to explain the specifics. The technical discussions are woven into the story, and do not at all get in its way.

While the book celebrates Ramanujan's improbable rise to success, overcoming tremendous obstacles, it also examines those obstacles, created by the British Raj and unfortunately persisting into the post-colonial Indian educational system.

While decrying the failings in Ramanujan's formal education, Kanigel also speculates on whether the broader South Indian culture, particularly the flexibility within Hindu religious traditions, allowed Ramanujan to approach mathematics less rigidly than could his English colleagues. No answers are attempted, but his questions are profound.

A human who loved the Infinity

Great book, in style and content. Exploring the background environment in a way that isn't boring or too little. I must admit that the first part of Ramanujan's story was a bit dull. I liked the part about Hardy quite a lot, and I think this book is more like on the two of them than just Ramanujan.

Great Book

My favorite mathematician, Srinivasa Ramaujan. The story goes in great detail about his life and work. If you watched the movie, them get prepared for the entire story. It's a Shame that the movie couldn't fit a lot of this stuff in, but, it's easily a book I will not forget. If you love mathematics, you will love this book.

Infinitely delightful

This is a great story; lots of historical detail; excellent research; beautiful writing style; effectively narrated.

Documentary, but not Entertainment

Though an impressive history of a genius, I struggled to finish this, as there is far too much math. Perhaps more interesting to read not as an audio book but visually see the math on page, and would require someone with good math knowledge to really appreciate it. Not so much of an entertaining story but rather a documentary of a genious's life. I selected this book because I love the narrator's versatility and skill with accents and presentation. However in this audiobook he simply read the story.