The MANIAC

The book is a gripping account of the development of artificial intelligence from the early part of the twentieth century to modern times. It is a fascinating account of John von Neumann, a mathematical genius bordering on madness. A fiction based on fact. It is a racy novel that I couldn't put down.

This book by Benjamin Labatut is interesting. As in his last book, it is a work of fiction based on facts. What makes the book compelling, are the stories and the links - no matter how tenuous between genius and depression. This link comes through strongly in the first section about mathematicians.The second section concerns the development of computers and the atom bomb.And in the last section, AI.The link between mania and genius is weakest in the last section. The book is sometimes difficult to follow, especially in the second section, where he keeps jumping around.

Absorbing,Intelligent and Thought Provoking

This is one of the most remarkable books I have read. It simultaneously falls into many categories. It reads like a biography creates a feel of a thriller at the end but is actually a work of fiction. As it is based on facts there is plenty to learn. You learn about some commonalities that afflict geniuses, about how different people can have different views of the same person, how genius has levels, how mathematics can influence many fields and the disruptive power of AI. Highly recommended.

This is as good as author's earlier book. Loved it.

Much like Benjamin's Labatut's previous work- 'When we cease to understand the world', 'The Maniac' too fiddles with notions of science, technological advancements, complexity, the geniuses behind them and most importantly, the fine line between that and madness. It is a bewitching read which offers anecdotes strung together with a thread balanced on facts and fiction and offers a gaze into the greatest minds which once lived. Breathtaking and dazzling. I will be in awe for many months to come.

I received the book in a poor situation. Last 50 pages are damaged due to some liquid spilling on the it and percolation. The back cover is also damaged due to this.

Interesante

This new theme of fictional biography is too creative. Would definitely suggest to read if you like to read about scientific minds.

This novel turned out to be something different than I expected. I thought the title referred to the fact that John von Neumann was often considered crazy by the people around him, and, indeed, that is part of what is going on here. From the very first pages, however, the title takes on much more meaning.“Maniac” is a term that could be applied to any number of scientists. There is something about the intellectual nature of the work that seems to make mental illness much more common among the highest achievers in fields like physics and math. Instead of von Neumann, the book opens with the story of Paul Ehrenfest, a friend of Einstein’s, whose struggles with depression lead to a shocking and tragic conclusion.In von Neumann’s story, my favorite part is his encounter with Kurt Godel when he puts forth his incompleteness theorem for the first time. Among the powerful mathematicians who hear his talk, only von Neumann understands Godel (another person who struggled mightily with mental illness), and this understanding changes the course of von Neumann’s life. It is said that Godel was the only mind von Neumann thought was greater than his own, and changed his work from pure mathematics to the foundations of computer science that would dominate the rest of his life.In fact, the obvious reference in the title is to the prototype computer that von Neumann built, called the MANIAC. The impact this machine had on his life and work is difficult to underestimate. Unfortunately, due to the fact that he used his machine mainly for military purposes, it is underrepresented in the history of computer development. The way he was hounded about secrets even onto his deathbed is shocking.But, for me, I think the most entertaining and interesting part of the book is the description of the Go competition between the AI AlphaGo and Lee Sedol, one of the greatest human Go players ever. Move 37 and move 78 will forever be touchstones for me as I think about what it means to have taken steps towards true human-like intelligence.Yes, this book is something different than I expected, and The Maniac is an exquisitely apt title. It’s a novel that seems to hue so close to real life that it feels like non-fiction. But, however you want to categorize it, The Maniac is a truly excellent book.

A most thought broadening story, particularly significant in Today's world when AI is leaving its diapers behind and could overwhelm our cultures...

It took me a while to understand the way the book is written - as I understood it, it’s a historical fiction; so it’s like reading a biography but with all the human detail which I presume was added by the author. I think it’s a GREAT way to write such a book. I really loved it.Im not sure it was what I thought it was, but again I really enjoyed it; it’s so well written.It’s a book of two parts; the first 2/3 is about Jonny Von Neumann, the mathematician - it’s a birth-to-death biography without any technical detail but still covers all his achievements. The second 1/3 is just about the AlphaGo/Lee Sedol Go tournament; something I previously had no knowledge of or interest in, yet I was captivated and gripped!Love this author.Would highly recommend.