
Written by Deborah Heiligman · Illustrated by LeUyen Pham
A mathematician defies norms, traveling the world to collaborate on groundbreaking work.
Meet Paul Erdos, a mathematical prodigy who could calculate your age in seconds but struggled with simple tasks. Instead of working alone, he journeyed globally, collaborating with fellow mathematicians. Discover how his unique approach and relentless curiosity led to an extraordinary number of publications. What drove him to defy convention and connect with others in his field? Explore the intriguing life of a man who reshaped the world of math through collaboration and innovation.
Most people think of mathematicians as solitary, working away in isolation. And, it’s true, many of them do. But Paul Erdos never followed the usual path. At the age of four, he could ask you when you were born and then calculate the number of seconds you had been alive in his head. But he didn’t learn to butter his own bread until he turned twenty. Instead, he traveled around the world, from one mathematician to the next, collaborating on an astonishing number of publications. With a simple, lyrical text and richly layered illustrations, this is a beautiful introduction to the world of math and a fascinating look at the unique character traits that made “Uncle Paul” a great man.
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