This is the powerful, dramatic biography of math genius John Nash, who overcame serious mental illness and schizophrenia to win the Nobel Prize. This book is the inspiration for the Academy Award-winning film starring Russell Crowe and Jennifer Connelly and directed by Ron Howard. *** “How could you, a mathematician, believe that extraterrestrials were sending you messages?” the visitor from Harvard asked the West Virginian with the movie-star looks and Olympian manner. “Because the ideas I had about supernatural beings came to me the same way my mathematical ideas did,” came the answer. “So I took them seriously.” *** Thus begins the true story of John Nash, the mathematical genius, who was already a legend by age thirty, when he slipped into madness, and who—thanks to the selflessness of a beautiful woman and the loyalty of the mathematics community—emerged after decades of ghostlike existence to win a Nobel Prize for triggering the game theory revolution. The inspiration for an Academy Award–winning movie, Sylvia Nasar’s now-classic biography is a drama about the mystery of the human mind, triumph over adversity, and the healing power of love.
Unraveling the Genius and Madness
Sylvia Nasar's "A Beautiful Mind" is a powerful and poignant biography that delves into the extraordinary life of John Nash, a mathematical genius whose journey from brilliance to madness and eventual triumph forms the heart of this captivating narrative.
The book traces Nash's life from his lonely childhood in West Virginia to his academic years at Princeton, where he interacted with luminaries such as Albert Einstein and John von Neumann. Nasar skillfully paints a vivid portrait of Nash's rise to prominence as a brilliant and ambitious graduate student, whose groundbreaking contributions to game theory would revolutionize the field of economics.
The narrative captures Nash's unconventional personal life, marked by eccentricities and a penchant for defying societal norms. His expulsion from the RAND Corporation during the McCarthy era adds a layer of historical context, highlighting the challenges faced by intellectuals during that tumultuous period.
The turning point in Nash's life comes with his catastrophic mental breakdown, leading to a descent into severe schizophrenia. Nasar courageously details Nash's struggles, bizarre delusions, and repeated hospitalizations, providing readers with a poignant glimpse into the devastating effects of mental illness.
The author skillfully weaves in the emotional and personal aspects of Nash's life, including his marriage to Alicia Larde, the birth of their son, and the subsequent challenges posed by Nash's deteriorating mental health. The portrayal of Nash's relationships, especially with Alicia, adds a humanizing touch to the narrative, emphasizing the role of love and support in the face of adversity.
Nasar's writing is both empathetic and engaging, drawing readers into Nash's world and the complexities of his mind. The book's exploration of Nash's "enforced interludes of rationality" provides a nuanced perspective on the intermittent moments when Nash could briefly return to mathematical research, showcasing the resilience of his intellect.
The narrative builds to a climax with Nash's unexpected remission from mental illness and the subsequent Nobel Prize in Economics awarded for his contributions to game theory. Nasar takes readers behind the scenes, providing a glimpse into the challenges and debates within the Nobel Prize committee, adding a layer of intrigue to the story.
"A Beautiful Mind" is not just a biography; it is a testament to the triumph of the human spirit over adversity. Nasar masterfully combines elements of drama, mystery, and inspiration, creating a narrative that transcends the genre of traditional biography. The book's impact is further amplified by its role as the inspiration for an Academy Award-winning film, adding another layer of cultural significance to Nash's story.
In conclusion, Sylvia Nasar's "A Beautiful Mind" is a literary masterpiece that offers a deeply moving and thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of genius, mental illness, and the redemptive power of love. It stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of John Nash and is a must-read for anyone seeking a profound and enriching literary experience.
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Sylvia Nasar, Journalist, Biographer, Professor of Journalism 
Illuminating Minds and Economic Genius
Dive into the fascinating life of Sylvia Nasar, an accomplished American journalist and author celebrated for her profound insights into the worlds of mathematics, economics, and human resilience. Born on August 17, 1947, in Rosenheim, Germany, Nasar's journey spans continents, disciplines, and the exploration of brilliant minds.
Early Life and Diverse Journey: Sylvia Nasar's unique heritage, born to a Bavarian mother and an Uzbek father who later served as a CIA intelligence officer, set the stage for a life of global experiences. In 1951, her family immigrated to the United States, eventually settling in Ankara, Turkey, in 1960. Nasar's academic pursuits led her to Antioch College, where she earned a BA in literature in 1970. She continued her educational journey, obtaining a Master's degree in economics from New York University in 1976. During this time, Nasar conducted research alongside Nobel Laureate Wassily Leontief, laying the foundation for her deep understanding of economic principles.
Journalistic Career: In 1983, Nasar joined Fortune magazine as a staff writer, marking the beginning of a distinguished career in economic journalism. Her expertise and insightful commentary soon led her to become a columnist for U.S. News & World Report in 1990. From 1991 to 1999, she served as an economic correspondent for The New York Times, contributing valuable perspectives on economic matters. Nasar's contributions extended beyond reporting; she became the first John S. and James L. Knight Professor of Business Journalism at Columbia University.
In 2013, Nasar filed a lawsuit against Columbia University, alleging the misdirection of funds from the Knight endowment. This legal action highlighted her commitment to ethical standards and accountability in academic institutions.
Personal Life and Family: Sylvia Nasar's personal life is a harmonious blend of family and intellectual pursuits. Married to Fordham University economist Darryl McLeod, Nasar is a proud mother of three adult children—Clara, Lily, and Jack. The Nasar-McLeod family calls Tarrytown, New York, home.
A Beautiful Mind: Nasar's literary prowess shines brightly in her first book, A Beautiful Mind (1998), a biographical masterpiece detailing the life of Nobel Prize-winning economist and mathematician John Forbes Nash Jr. The book not only won the National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography but also offered a profound exploration of severe mental illness and its impact on an extraordinary mind.
Grand Pursuit: The Story of Economic Genius: In 2011, Nasar continued to captivate readers with Grand Pursuit, a historical narrative that delves into the transformative power of economics in rescuing mankind from squalor and deprivation. The book received the prestigious Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Science and Technology.
Manifold Destiny and Journalism: Nasar's journalistic prowess extends beyond books. In 2006, her article "Manifold Destiny" in The New Yorker provided the only interview with Grigori Perelman, the mathematician who solved the Poincaré conjecture and declined the 2006 Fields Medal. Her ability to navigate complex mathematical narratives showcased her dedication to bringing stories of intellectual significance to a broader audience.
Awards and Honors: Sylvia Nasar's contributions have not gone unnoticed, with accolades such as the 2011 Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Science and Technology) for Grand Pursuit and the 1998 National Book Critics Circle Award for Biography for A Beautiful Mind. She was also nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Biography for the same work.
Legacy and Ongoing Contributions: As Knight Professor Emerita at Columbia University's School of Journalism, Sylvia Nasar continues to shape the minds of future journalists and authors. Her commitment to exploring the intersection of human stories, mathematics, and economics leaves an enduring mark on the literary and academic landscape.
Uncover the intellectual journey of Sylvia Nasar, where a passion for economic genius, an appreciation for diverse cultures, and a commitment to journalistic integrity converge to inspire generations.
There are many interesting insights and anedotes throughout the book. JN was apparently labeled as an "underachiever" by his elementary school teachers, with his worse grades being in music and mathematics. It is no surprise to learn that books were his best friends as a child, but it is interesting to learn that he spent much of his childhood performing experiments in his home laboratory. Mathematics is not really an empirical science, and Nash's mathematical achievements rank more as pure than applied. Widely read, he also evidently preferred solving problems "in his head" rather than via the ubiquitous pencil and paper.
The biographer also gives interesting insights into the kind of university Princeton was at the time JN entered. In the Princeton department of mathematics, "Grades meant nothing" she quotes Solomon Lefschetz as saying. Emily Artin, the famous algebraist at Princeton at the time, apparently did not like Nash, clashing with him frequently in the "common room", and recommended that Nash be thrown out of Princeton. Also, the reader learns that game theory was viewed as somewhat "declasse" at Princeton, which is even more interesting considering its importance now in business and in research in artificial intelligence. The formalist school of mathematics held center stage at the time, and the biographer labels Nash's paper on the topic "one of the first to apply the axiomatic method to a problem in the social sciences". John von Neumann apparently thought his results "trivial" though, says the biographer. A whole chapter is spent on Nash's determination to avoid military service, for reasons that entering the military would preclude the obtaining of a prominent academic position.
Nash's bisexuality is perhaps a surprise, if compared to the rest of the mathematical community, who are in general heterosexual, then and now. Attitudes about homosexuality cost him a job according to the biographer. In the current age of political correctness and diversity-with-bias, this would be unheard of. With reference to his personal life, Nash's relationship with Alicia was delineated beautifully by the biographer. Even a mind so given to abstractions as Nash's needs the concreteness and warmth of human interaction. The perplexing age anxiety of mathematicians is also brought out in the book. A perusal of the brilliant work of the over-40 Edward Witten and Andrew Wiles should of course put this (crippling) anxiety to rest. Nash's decision to work on the Riemann Hypothesis would perhaps, if he had continued to work on it, brought him to middle-age and beyond.
One could perhaps speculate on what Nash would have achieved mathematically if mental illness would not have crippled him. Such speculation is superfluous though, as the contributions he made are more than most individuals have or could have made. His life hitherto has been one of overwhelming success, and his mind to be viewed with quiet envy.
On the one hand, Nash's personal life was a lot more captivating than that which the movie portrayed. While the movie simplified and dramatized certain events in his life to the nth degree, such as his "mysterious non-existent roommate", or his high-drama encounters with the "government agents", the chronology was off, and there are many real events from his life that the reader of this biography will find even more interesting and pertinent. Unfortunately, the real Nash is not as sexy as the movie portrays, and he must have been a real jerk to be around at times (he was not only a cruel child, and indifferent friend, but a cruel husband as well, leaving his first wife to the dogs). My main issue with Nasar's writing is that I didn't come away satisfied that his actual work was explained very thoroughly. The wider influence, and importance of his work (as well as other mathematicians mentioned) was too vague (i.e. after reading the biography, I couldn't tell you in great detail why Nash was great, or what his work has done to change anyone's life). Perhaps, like some of the single star reviewers out there, I'm being too harsh in my criticism of Nasar as a writer, but even though I think she portrayed his personality, and the nature of schizophrenia extremely well, she didn't seem to understand the mathematical side of things as well as she probably should have to make this a "classic" biography.
Nevertheless, the lack of mathematics and game theory detail is probably a good thing in that it's lead me to seek out more serious overviews on mathematics, including one called: "The Essential John Nash", edited by Ms. Nasar and Harold Kuhn, 2002. This concise summation of his work is accessible to non-math types, and highly recommended for those more interested in Nash's work than his personal life. It's possible that you will find this compendium of his work to contain everything the biography is missing, and so, both books together probably create the most complete portrait of this "beautiful mind" available to the general public.
