Customer Reviews
An Excellent book that I have ever red - By: H. R. Ellanki, 18 Nov 2008 
Srinivasa Ramanujan!What a great name & legendin the mathematical history. He is one of my favourite mathematician from my childhood. I tried to find his biography before & I couldnt find proper biography & this book is very very excellent book about the Genius. At one time, I have got tears on my eyes while reading the book & his troublesin his life. He found so many mathematical formulaein his time without proper facilities as we have today.
One thing I can say for sure, he lived only 33 years & If he'd lived more, then where would be the mathematical world?
Disappointing and lacking in mathematical insight. - By: , 27 May 2005 
I bought this book after reading many others on popular mathematics. I found the book very slow, with heavy repetition of only a few themes. While Ramanujan was clearly an incredible man the book concentrates mostly on the incidental parts of his life & largely ignores the mathematical details the area I believe that defined him as an incredible individual. There was virtually no detail of any of his mathematical achievements making rather a dry biography lackingin interesting detail.
An Inspirational account of the life of a Mathematical geniu - By: , 08 Jan 2003 Srinivasa Ramanujan is rightly a member of the Mathematicians’ Hall of Fame. From humble beginningsin the small town of Kumbhakaonin Tamil Nadu to the hallowed cloisters of Trinity College, Cambridge, this magnificent book narrates the story of Ramanujan’s trails, tribulations & triumphs.
Central to the story are the powerful influences of Ramanujan’s mother & the great English Mathematician, Godfrey Harold Hardy. If his mother, Komala shaped the first part of Ramanujan’s life, then surely Hardy must take full credit for bringing Ramanujan’s prodigious talents to the attention of the world Mathematical community. Other prominent characters also figurein the story – notably Ramanujan’s many friends, Narayana Aiyer, Gopalachari, leading lightsin the Indian Mathematical establishment, members of the ruling British classes, Sir Francis Spring, the Governor of Madras Presidency, xxxx, & Cambridge Mathematicians, Neville, Littlewood.
The book presents a touching portrait of Ramanujan the man: an orthodox Vaishav Bhraman, steepedin Hindu culture with all the attendant characteristics of a deeply spiritual outlook, a calm self-assurance about his abilities, & most of all, an obsession with Mathematics. Hardy, his mentor, is also biographed as the passionately atheist, Winchester educated son of a middle class schoolmaster who went up to Cambridge, & at the turn of the 20th century, almost single handed masterminded the rise of English Pure Mathematics.
A book you will read in one go - By: GP Karman, 12 Jul 2002 
I had heard of Ramanujan before, but not being a mathematician myself, I never read anything on him so I bought this biography by Kanigel. I like the stylein which it is written, it makes easy reading & keeps you fascinated throughout the book. I read itin 1-2 days. The book not only covers the mathematics & collaboration with Hardyin detail but also the tremendous 'sufferings' Ramanujan had to undergo, & the culture clash between the West & India.
The book is worth the money. The only drawback I can think of is the cheap look & feel of the paperback edition. This book is certainly worth to be publishedin hardcover edition. I give it 4 stars because way too many booksin Amazon get overrated by 5 stars & I don't want to fool people. If you are like me, with no backgroundin Ramanujan, just buy this book, it is very good.
A superb account of the life of the genius Ramanujan. - By: , 10 Jul 2001 Kanigel weaves an entriguing biography from his extensive research into the life of Ramanujan. This text follows Ramanujan's journey from intellectual isolation to mathematical enlightenment & the universal acclaim he deserved & desired. Cultural aspects of his Indian background & the ensuing shock of Cambridge are conveyed convincingly. The author makes an unusual effort to explain mathematical concepts & he succeedsin creating a book that will enthrall mathematicians & non-mathematicians alike.
