Computing Reviews
Today's Issue Hot Topics Search Browse Recommended My Account Log In
Review Help
Search
Alan M. Turing : centenary edition
Turing S., Cambridge University Press, New York, NY, 2012. 194 pp. Type: Book (978-1-107020-58-0)
Date Reviewed: Aug 22 2012

Alan Mathison Turing is now considered one of the greatest figures of the 20th century, yet his name was not recognized beyond mathematical circles until the 1970s, when his work on the breaking of the German Enigma code during World War II was revealed. His contributions to mathematics, logic, informatics, artificial intelligence, and computational biology have gradually become more appreciated since then.

This book commemorates the centennial of his birth. It is actually a republication of his mother’s biography, originally written in 1959. This 2012 edition offers a new foreword by Martin Davis and a never-before-published memoir by Alan’s older brother, John. The latter sheds new light on Alan’s relationship with his family, though it does not offer any reasons for his suicide.

The book reveals many details from the life and personality of Alan that, though interpreted through a loving mother’s eyes, seem sufficiently objective. That is, these details convey much more about the person as a genius than what could be gathered from his works. To the typical reader--likely a modern, practical person overwhelmed with information--the impact of Alan’s advancements in scientific theory and practice are more important, but this illumination of his personal life gives perspective. In particular, one can appreciate how much he achieved in his short life. His actual life seems like a thriller or a story from the tabloids, from his secret work during the war to his sudden death, which was not fully clarified until recently.

Part 1, “Mainly Biographical,” explores his family background (dating back to the 12th century), his childhood, and his studies at Sherborne School. Next is an overview of his university studies and work at King’s College, Cambridge, together with his two years at Princeton surrounded by personalities such as Albert Einstein and John von Neumann. His work at Bletchley Park during the war lacks detail because, at the time Sara Turing was writing, that project was still top secret. Important facts are provided on his work at the National Physical Laboratory after the war, and at Manchester University when he worked on the automatic computing machine. This section also describes various efforts to promote his work through broadcasts and lectures. Apart from his involvement in mathematics research, he had other scientific interests, particularly in morphogenesis, biology, chemistry, and artificial brains.

Part 2 presents 20 pages of authentic (published) reactions of scientific colleagues to Alan’s computing and morphogenesis theories.

The book does effectively portray both Alan Turing’s life and work. His mother always tried to understand the logic of her son’s achievements in mathematics, and kept extensive biographical data on all his works. I recommend this book not only to people interested in Alan’s scientific achievements, but to anyone who would like to meet a genius of the modern era.

Reviewer:  Rita Puzmanova Review #: CR140495 (1212-1228)
Bookmark and Share
  Reviewer Selected
Featured Reviewer
 
 
Alan Turing (K.2 ... )
 
 
Alan Turing (A.0 ... )
 
Would you recommend this review?
yes
no
Other reviews under "Alan Turing": Date
Mechanical intelligence (collected works of A. M. Turing)
Ince D. (ed), North-Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1992. Type: Book (9780444880581)
Aug 1 1993
Pure mathematics (collected works of A. M. Turing)
Britton J. (ed), North-Holland Publishing Co., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1992. Type: Book (9780444880598)
Feb 1 1993
Alan M. Turing: centenary edition
Turing S., Cambridge University Press, New York, NY, 2012.  194, Type: Book (978-1-107020-58-0), Reviews: (2 of 2)
Aug 9 2012
more...

E-Mail This Printer-Friendly
Send Your Comments
Contact Us
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.   Copyright 1999-2024 ThinkLoud®
Terms of Use
| Privacy Policy