Idea Makers - bookrastinating.com

No cover — Stephen Wolfram: Idea Makers (2016, Wolfram Media, Inc.)

Hardcover, 250 pages

English language

Published July 7, 2016 by Wolfram Media, Inc..

ISBN:: 978-1-57955-003-5
OCLC Number:: 951465441

This book of thoroughly engaging essays from one of today's most prodigious innovators provides a uniquely personal perspective on the lives and achievements of a selection of intriguing figures from the history of science and technology. Weaving together his immersive interest in people and history with insights gathered from his own experiences, Stephen Wolfram gives an ennobling look at some of the individuals whose ideas and creations have helped shape our world today.

From his recollections about working with Richard Feynman to his insights about how Alan Turing's work has unleashed generations of innovation to the true role of Ada Lovelace in the history of computing, Wolfram takes the reader into the minds and lives of great thinkers and creators of the past few centuries—and shows how great achievements can arise from dramatically different personalities and life trajectories.

This book of thoroughly engaging essays from one of today's most prodigious innovators provides a uniquely personal perspective on the lives and achievements of a selection of intriguing figures from the history of science and technology. Weaving together his immersive interest in people and history with insights gathered from his own experiences, Stephen Wolfram gives an ennobling look at some of the individuals whose ideas and creations have helped shape our world today.

From his recollections about working with Richard Feynman to his insights about how Alan Turing's work has unleashed generations of innovation to the true role of Ada Lovelace in the history of computing, Wolfram takes the reader into the minds and lives of great thinkers and creators of the past few centuries—and shows how great achievements can arise from dramatically different personalities and life trajectories.

1 edition

Soubhagya reviewed Idea Makers by Stephen Wolfram

Review of 'Idea Makers' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

This book captures the views of the author on the lives and work of some of the best innovators. The author has done an excellent job in selecting the innovators. He has also done good amount of research on the work and lives of the persons. Some of his insights are good.
But there are a few problems with the narrative. First it is a personal perspective and some of the views are very biased and not appropriate for wider audience. The content is full of self-admiration of the author and his work. Often the self-admiration over shadows the work of the innovators in the narrative. The author has not tried to simplify the content for wider audience. The author has done a fantastic job in explaining the work of the innovators in areas where the author has good grasp. But the other aspects of the innovators' work are ignored. …

This book captures the views of the author on the lives and work of some of the best innovators. The author has done an excellent job in selecting the innovators. He has also done good amount of research on the work and lives of the persons. Some of his insights are good.
But there are a few problems with the narrative. First it is a personal perspective and some of the views are very biased and not appropriate for wider audience. The content is full of self-admiration of the author and his work. Often the self-admiration over shadows the work of the innovators in the narrative. The author has not tried to simplify the content for wider audience. The author has done a fantastic job in explaining the work of the innovators in areas where the author has good grasp. But the other aspects of the innovators' work are ignored. Many of the images included in the book are not readable and some are unnecessary.