Title: Logicomix: An Epic Search for Truth
Author: Apostolos Doxiadis and Christos Papademitriou
Publisher: Bloomsbury, September 2009
Summary: Bertrand Russell, mathematician, philosopher, pacifist and lightning rod, was one of the most important thinkers of the twentieth century. This ambitious graphic biography focuses equally on his turbulent personal life and his groundbreaking work in the area of mathematical logic. We follow Russell as he discovers a paradox and works (and reworks) his theories. He teams with and is opposed by heavyweights of early twentieth-century philosophy, including Wittgenstein and Godel, all the while searching for truth and remaining haunted by the madness he believes is constantly circling him.
Bertrand Russell affected – and was affected by – some of the most dramatic personalities and events of the twentieth century. While a graphic novel about math and philosophy might not seem like the most enticing subject, in the hands of these gifted writers and illustrators, Russell’s story comes to life in surprising and compelling ways.
Who will like this book?: People interested in the history of science, technology and math.
If you like this, try this: For another unique take on philosophy, try The Book of Dead Philosophers by Simon Critchley. Professor Stewart’s Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities by Ian Stewart. If you are as clueless about math and science as I am, check out 100 Most Important Science Ideas by Mark Henderson.
Recommended by: Nicole, Teen Librarian