The Man Who Knew Infinity

A Life of the Genius Ramanujan

By: Robert Kanigel

Narrated by: Humphrey Bower

In 1913, an unschooled young Indian clerk wrote a letter to G. H. Hardy, begging that preeminent English mathematician's opinion on several ideas he had about numbers. Hardy, realizing the letter was the work of a genius, arranged for Srinivasa Ramanujan to come to England. Thus began one of the most remarkable collaborations ever chronicled.

With a passion for rich and evocative detail, Robert Kanigel takes us from the temples and teeming slums of Madras to the courts and chapels of Cambridge University, where the devout Hindu Ramanujan, "the Prince of Intuition", tested his brilliant theories alongside the sophisticated and eccentric Hardy, "the Apostle of Proof". In time, Ramanujan's creative intensity took its toll: he died at the age of 32, but left behind a magical and inspired legacy that today is still being plumbed for its secrets.

©1991 Robert Kanigel (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Moving and astonishing." (Publishers Weekly)

"Extremely well-researched and well-written biography." (Library Journal)

Fantastic story by an excellent narrator

I will gladly listen to Humphrey Bower read anything - if he was listing the names of my children’s fellow classmates at their graduation, even that drudgery would be enjoyable.

gripping accurate and most readable<br />

the best bio of Ramanujan . thoroughly researched and brilliant ly chronicled
will delight you. hard to put down.

Absolutely fantastic!

This was one of the best reads I have listened to all year, one gets the sense of how to write a biography simply by listening to how this was constructed. Intimate, insightful, lucid and inspiring.

Great Book

My favorite mathematician, Srinivasa Ramaujan. The story goes in great detail about his life and work. If you watched the movie, them get prepared for the entire story. It's a Shame that the movie couldn't fit a lot of this stuff in, but, it's easily a book I will not forget. If you love mathematics, you will love this book.

Infinitely delightful

This is a great story; lots of historical detail; excellent research; beautiful writing style; effectively narrated.