Rating: 
Summary: One of the best mathematical biographies ever.
Review: An astonishing book about an eccentric genius. An almost perfect mixture of biography and explanation, where appropriate, of the mathematics involved. I loved this book!
Rating:
Summary: Masterful
Review: For a work of nonfiction, Hoffman writes with all the attention to detail of a great novelist. I did not expect a book about mathematics to be a real page-turner. He paints a vivid and engaging portrait of Paul Erdos, a most unique creature, who takes the cake for being devoted to a single subject. I see why Oliver Sacks loves the book and why it's a bestseller. The Man Who Loved Only Numbers is a must for students of the human condition.
Rating: 
Summary: Well-researched and lively account of Erdos's life.
Review: This is an exquisitely enjoyable biograpny of the legendaryHungarian mathematician Paul Erdos. I read "The Man Who LovedOnly Numbers" practically in one sitting. Hoffman spent a lot of time around Erdos and the mathematicians who knew Erdos. The result is a biography with a personal feel for its subject, laced with quotes from Erdos and anecdotes from those who knew him well..Erdos was an eccentric character: he had a private vocabulary for the commonplace (e.g., "Supreme Fascist" for "God" and "epsilon" for child). His single-minded devotion to math was legendary, as were his peripatetic lifestyle and helplessness around all things material. Hoffman paints a vivid portrait of this eccentiric man and, in subtle ways, demonstrates his impact on several generations of mathematicians. Hoffman also weaves in an accessible account of several mathematical fields to which Erdos contributed, such as Ramsey theory, number theory, combinatorics, and graph theory. Hoffman clearly and entertainingly explains some of the fundamental ideas involved in these fields. I have two criticisms. First, Hoffman wrongly states that the difference between a transcendental number like pi and an "ordinary" irrational like the square root of 2 is that the decimal expansion of a trascendental neither terminates nor repeats itself. In fact, no irrational's decimal expansion terminates or repeats itself; numbers with this property are rational. The difference, instead, is that transcendental numbers are not the roots of algebraic equations, while "ordinary" irrationals are. This may seem a piddling criticism, but a book about a mathematician should have got this basic distinction right. Second, the book lacks a coherent theme. Every biography should answer the question, "Why should I, the reader, learn about this person? " Hoffman's book is entertaining, at least for someone interested in math. Erdos was an interesting, eccentr! ic fellow; he is plain fun to read about. Hoffman certainly brings him to life. But the book lacks a deeper theme. In the end, "The Man Who Loved Numbers" is simply an (entertaining) account of an eccentric mathematician. By contrast, Gleick's "Genius" -- a biography of the physicist Richard Feynmann -- is really an extended study of the nature of genius and creativity in science. I heartily recommend this book despite these two criticisms. Anyone seriously interested in math will certainly want to read this book. I think it will also be enjoyable reading for those who are curious about what mathematicians do, or who simply want to read a good story about a strange man.
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Summary: A Very Good Book About A Charming, Eccentric Genius
Review: Paul Hoffman, publisher of Encyclopedia Brittanica, has written a lively biography of Paul Erdos, a brilliant number theorist who spent his long and productive career with no permanent residence. Although Erdos had many oddities, such as the inability to handle some of the most mundane tasks such as taking a shower without pointing the nozzle in the wrong direction and getting water all over the floor, he was a very charming and lovable man, unlike, for example, John Nash throughout much of the latter's life. I think that a more accurate title would have been The Man Who Understood Only Numbers. Certainly he loved children and had no apparent malice towards anyone. I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in people of unusual intelligence. This is not a math book. No knowledge of mathematics whatsoever is necessary for the enjoyment of this book and the appreciation of its subject.
Rating:
Summary: Eminently Fascinating
Review: Having stopped learning math in high school, competent, but not excellent at it, this book was a great romp of mathematical trivia. As a biography it is a little scattered in focus, but the life of Paul Erdos was befitting of such an approach. One of the great minds in the history of math, more published than almost any other, thinking things only a handful of others could grasp, Erdos was a personification of the absent-minded thinker. Which could sometimes make for a hard subject to write the life of. Having never heard of Erdos until I read this book, it proved to be a competent and entertaining book about the man's life and quirks and some of his ideas. But the true strength of this book is its branching out into the ideas of the world of mathematics. Taking asides that last ten pages or more, Paul Hoffman explores the foundations and revolutions and some of the quirkier trivia tidbits of the world of mathematics. Making this work as much a fun romp through the interesting parts of math and part biography of a quixotic man who lived math. I have heard there is another biography of Erdos out there that deals more directly with his life and ideas, and if one were looking for a more focused biography, it would probably be a better choice. But The Man Who Loved Only Numbers is a great read for its insight and entertainment value. Yes, it made math fun, and for the most part understandable.
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Summary: My Favorite Book
Review: I picked up this book to learn about one of the prolific mathematicians of the 20th century. What I got out of these mere 280 pages was a lot more than just that. Hoffman stayed away from a typical biography layout that starts with birth and ends with death. Rather, he jumps from era to era, subject to subject. And he does it all so gracefully that he never loses the reader. There's also a lot more than just a biography here. The supporting cast, the history, the math is exhillarating. Anecdotes he cites of Erdos (Good morning, let p be a prime...) are hilarious as well as very useful in getting to know this genius. If I had to mention a shortcoming I would say that you don't learn much about specific achievements of Erdos in the field of mathematics, like theorems he proved or the topics of the papers he wrote. Overall, though, an excellent book...
Rating:
Summary: Even if you aren't a math person.....
Review: Even if you are not a math person you will find this book enjoyable. During every sitting there was at least one story of Erdos's witicisms or crazyness that made me laugh out loud.
His accomplishments are especially touching given what he came from. One of the other reviewers commented that this book did not go into detail regarding his mathematical achievements. I think that is a strength because who wants to read boring numbers and symbols? Check it out.
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