Sylvia Nasar - Beautiful Mind

Pros: Intense, sensitive biography of one of the most enigmatic scientists of our time.

Cons: Some of the mathematical terminology will be difficult for non-math-geeks to understand.

The Bottom Line: A fierce, courageous biography of genius and mental illness, I happily recommend this to anyone who wants to know more about John Nash.

Review: Ever since my own college days, I found the theories of John Nash to be interesting, even if I could not yet grasp the subtlites of his work. With this award winning biography, author Sylvia Nasar gives us insight to one of the more remarkable men of the...

Pros: Well researched, in depth, clearly written

Cons: None

The Bottom Line: Extremely well researched, fascinating and inspiring.

Review: A biography about Princeton scholar and Nobel prize recipient, A Beautiful Mind, John Forbes Nash, Jr. by Sylvia Nasar. Published 1998 by Simon and Schuster. Winner of Critics Circle Award. The book is presently scheduled for the March 2001 film...

Pros: Powerful discussion of the effect of schizophrenia upon a man and his family

Cons: None

The Bottom Line: A good opportunity to understand a little-known section of our society

Review: One of the largest problems confronting the schizophrenic in our society is breaking through the stigma associated with the illness. It continues to be difficult for society to accept these individuals, cursed with a disease that strikes at the very...

Pros: Detailed, Emotional, Brings you into the life of a genius

Cons: teary eyes occurr

The Bottom Line: See the movie first!

Review: A Beautiful Mind flows with excellent writing and in depth details of the trouble genius John F. Nash. As some reviewers have stated the author does go into a lot of Nash's works and other mathematical problems but you won't feel overwhelmed and you...

Pros: well-researched and thorough

Cons: need math help. sappy outtro

Review: Nasar's bio is really inspiring and moving.
The thing I couldn't help thinking is that the
psyche of most academics or mathematicians
is probably equally as complicated and
self-tortuous. Most bios, however, focus
(reasonably)...

Pros: Well written, thoroughly researched

Cons: Many less-interesting details of Nash's life could be omitted

Review: A touching and well-written account of the fine line between genius and madness. Also gives a good feel of the academic milieu of the 50's and 60's in the mathematics departments of MIT and Princeton. I was particularly affected by Nash's statements that...