Book Description
Never has the term mad scientist
been more fascinatingly explored than in internationally recognized
popular science author Clifford Pickover's richly researched wild ride
through the bizarre lives of eccentric geniuses. A few highlights:
"The Pigeon Man from Manhattan" Legendary inventor Nikola Tesla had abnormally long thumbs, a peculiar love of pigeons, and a horror of women's pearls.
"The Worm Man from Devonshire"
Forefather of modern electric-circuit design Oliver Heaviside furnished
his home with granite blocks and sometimes consumed only milk for days
(as did Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison).
"The Rabbit-Eater from Lichfield"
Renowned scholar Samuel Johnson had so many tics and quirks that some
mistook him for an idiot. In fact, his behavior matches modern
definitions of obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette's syndrome.
Pickover
also addresses many provocative topics: the link between genius and
madness, the role the brain plays in alien abduction and religious
experiences, UFOs, cryonics -- even the whereabouts of Einstein's brain!
About the Author
Clifford A. Pickover received his Ph.D. from Yale University and is the author of over 30 books on such topics as computers and creativity, art, mathematics, black holes, religion, human behavior and intelligence, time travel, alien life, and science fiction.Pickover is a prolific inventor with dozens of patents, is the associate editor for several journals, the author of colorful puzzle calendars, and puzzle contributor to magazines geared to children and adults.
WIRED magazine writes, "Bucky Fuller thought big, Arthur C. Clarke thinks big, but Cliff Pickover outdoes them both." According to The Los Angeles Times, "Pickover has published nearly a book a year in which he stretches the limits of computers, art and thought."
The Christian Science Monitor writes, "Pickover inspires a new generation of da Vincis to build unknown flying machines and create new Mona Lisas." Pickover's computer graphics have been featured on the cover of many popular magazines and on TV shows.
His web site, Pickover.Com, has received millions of visits. His Blog RealityCarnival.Com is one of his most popular sites.
