Overview
- Covers the inside story of Polish mathematics from the first-half of the 20th century
- An excellent English translation mirrors the subtleties found in Steinhaus' original texts in Polish
- Features extensive footnotes providing the context for many of the textual references
Part of the book series: Vita Mathematica (VM, volume 18)
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Table of contents (13 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Part I
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
Keywords
About this book
This book presents, in his own words, the life of Hugo Steinhaus (1887–1972), noted Polish mathematician of Jewish background, educator, and mathematical popularizer. A student of Hilbert, a pioneer of the foundations of probability and game theory, and a contributor to the development of functional analysis, he was one of those instrumental to the extraordinary flowering of Polish mathematics before and after World War I. In particular, it was he who “discovered” the great Stefan Banach. Exhibiting his great integrity and wit, Steinhaus’s personal story of the turbulent times he survived – including two world wars and life postwar under the Soviet heel – cannot but be of consuming interest. His account of the years spent evading Nazi terror is especially moving. The steadfast honesty and natural dignity he maintained while pursuing a life of demanding scientific and intellectual enquiry in the face of encroaching calamity and chaos show him to be truly a mathematician for all seasons.
The present work will be of great interest not only to mathematicians wanting to learn some of the details of the mathematical blossoming that occurred in Poland in the first half of the 20th century, but also to anyone wishing to read a first-hand account of the history of those unquiet times in Europe – and indeed world-wide – by someone of uncommon intelligence and forthrightness situated near an eye of the storm.Reviews
“The book under review is the first volume of Steinhaus’ recollections and notes. … Many footnotes make the reading easier. The book will be of great interest both for historians of mathematics as well as for all wishing to learn (from a witness) the history of those unquiet and difficult times in Europe.” (Roman Murawski, zbMATH 1331.01002, 2016)
Authors, Editors and Affiliations
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Mathematician for All Seasons
Book Subtitle: Recollections and Notes Vol. 1 (1887-1945)
Authors: Hugo Steinhaus
Editors: Robert G. Burns, Irena Szymaniec, Aleksander Weron
Series Title: Vita Mathematica
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-21984-4
Publisher: Birkhäuser Cham
eBook Packages: Mathematics and Statistics, Mathematics and Statistics (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-319-21983-7Published: 08 January 2016
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-319-79373-3Published: 30 March 2018
eBook ISBN: 978-3-319-21984-4Published: 28 December 2015
Series ISSN: 1013-0330
Series E-ISSN: 2504-3706
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: XV, 491
Number of Illustrations: 12 b/w illustrations, 13 illustrations in colour