A Beginner's Guide to Immortality: Extraordinary People, Alien Brains, and Quantum Resurrection by Clifford A. Pickover |
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In this unusual and penetrating work, Clifford Pickover internationally recognized science popularizer - takes us on a wild ride through the bizarre lives of brilliant, but eccentric geniuses who made significant contributions to science and philosophy. Unveiling the hidden secrets of a number of the most intelligent and prolific real-life mad scientists, Pickover delights us with unexpected stories of their obsessive personalities and strange phobias. These common threads lead us to wonder if creativity and genius are inextricably linked to madness. A highly entertaining collection of oddity and mischief, this original new work playfully uncovers the scandalous details that lurk behind the unseemly lives of these geniuses. We discover that the "Unabomber," Ted Kaczynski, a mathematical whiz with an IQ of 170, was pathologically shy, had an uncontrollable obsession with loud sounds, especially earthy bodily noises, and enjoyed playing practical jokes in high school, such as creating homemade gadgets that would pop loudly and emit a stream of violet smoke amid class - a compulsion that may have turned deadly. Then there was the great inventor Nikola Tesla who had a peculiar love for pigeons, particularly white ones, and was terrified of women's pearls. Plenty of other surprises abound, including the statistician and world explorer Francis Galton who quantified anything he saw - including the curves of women's bodies, and then there are others who all lived exceedingly unusual sexual or celibate lives. With Pickover's unique ability to draw the reader into this marvelous web of madness, he amuses us with remarkably quirky quotations attributed to these geniuses, and enchants us with intriguing yet morbid anecdotes celebrating the wonderfully unconventional childhood and careers of these individuals. Moreover, a fascinating "curiosity smorgasbord" to whet our appetites teases us with provocative questions to ponder along the way, such as: Where is Einstein's brain?
From the Publisher
Wonderful Advance Praise for STRANGE BRAINS AND GENIUS
In this unusual and penetrating work, Clifford Pickover internationally recognized science popularizer - takes us on a wild ride through the bizarre lives of brilliant, but eccentric geniuses who made significant contributions to science and philosophy. Unveiling the hidden secrets of a number of the most intelligent and prolific real-life mad scientists, Pickover delights us with unexpected stories of their obsessive personalities and strange phobias. These common threads lead us to wonder if creativity and genius are inextricably linked to madness. A highly entertaining collection of oddity and mischief, this original new work playfully uncovers the scandalous details that lurk behind the unseemly lives of these geniuses. We discover that the "Unabomber," Ted Kaczynski, a mathematical whiz with an IQ of 170, was pathologically shy, had an uncontrollable obsession with loud sounds, especially earthy bodily noises, and enjoyed playing practical jokes in high school, such as creating homemade gadgets that would pop loudly and emit a stream of violet smoke amid class - a compulsion that may have turned deadly. Then there was the great inventor Nikola Tesla who had a peculiar love for pigeons, particularly white ones, and was terrified of women's pearls. Plenty of other surprises abound, including the statistician and world explorer Francis Galton who quantified anything he saw - including the curves of women's bodies, and then there are others who all lived exceedingly unusual sexual or celibate lives. With Pickover's unique ability to draw the reader into this marvelous web of madness, he amuses us with remarkably quirky quotations attributed to these geniuses, and enchants us with intriguing yet morbid anecdotes celebrating the wonderfully unconventional childhood and careers of these individuals. Moreover, a fascinating "curiosity smorgasbord" to whet our appetites teases us with provocative questions to ponder along the way, such as: Where is Einstein's brain?
From the Publisher
Wonderful Advance Praise for STRANGE BRAINS AND GENIUS
"Who else but the maestro of mathematical creativity, Clifford Pickover, to curate a museum of Strange Brains and write biographies of the scientific geniuses who formerly owned them? I'll never look at a pidgeon, a pearl, or a Wheatstone bridge the same way again."
- Mark Frauenfelder, WIRED magazine
"Do geniuses tend to have strange beliefs and to exhibit bizarre behavior? Read this fascinating account of nine such men and decide what you think. Before you put the book down -- not easy to do! -- you will also learn a lot about the human brain and its major disorders. One cannot but wonder: Does Pickover, himself a genius in explaining mathematics and science in clear, entertaining ways, have any eccentricities?"
- Martin Gardner, Author of LAST RECREATIONS
"Pickover's originality has found itself the perfect topic....A compulsive account of minds just this side of the thin edge of madness -- and possibly beyond it."
- Ian Stewart, SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN
"Given his prolific nature and endless supply of ideas, Pickover would have been justified in adding a self-referential entry to this book. He certainly deserves to be described by the word genius, and this fascinating book is a testament to that fact."
- Charles Ashbacher, JOURNAL OF RECREATIONAL MATHEMATICS
"An extraordinary wealth of bizarre details about the life and behavior of many well-known scientists and others....Leaves one in awe of the variety and complexity of the human mind."
- Julien Clinton Sprott, Author of STRANGE ATTRACTIONS, Professor of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
"Pickover presents a fascinating mix of scientists, inventors, and philosophers. Besides learning about the profound impact their works have had on our lives, we get a look at their darker sides. Most informative and entertaining."
- Theoni Pappas, Author of MATHEMATICAL SCANDALS
"Delightful descriptions of wonderfully peculiar people....Pickover is the first to bring an insider's view to such a list, and he does so with authority, but also with a light touch. It puts our Uncle Albert in context for us, too!"
- Dr. Jack Cohen, author of FIGMENTS OF REALITY
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